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A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt. If the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake.'

Thomas Jefferson#31

PoliticsCrisisPatiencePrinciples

About this quote

What does it mean?
Jefferson urges patience during political turmoil, believing the people will eventually see through fear and restore true principles.
In plain terms
Be patient during bad times; people will eventually realize the truth and fix the government.
What can you take from it?
Time and patience allow truth to overcome fear and restore principle.

Where it applies

  • political instability
  • witch hunts
  • government crisis

Putting it to work

  • maintaining hope in crisis
  • waiting for public reason
  • restoring democratic norms

Questions to consider

  • How do societies recover from mass hysteria?
  • Is patience enough to restore principles?

Another view

It assumes public opinion naturally corrects itself without intervention.

More from Thomas Jefferson

  1. It was by the sober sense of our citizens that we were safely and steadily conducted from monarchy to republicanism, and it is by the same agency alone we can …

    Permalink to quote #30
  2. Resolved ... that it would be a dangerous delusion were a confidence in the men of our choice to silence our fears for the safety of our rights: that confidenc…

    Permalink to quote #32
  3. The second office of the government is honorable and easy, the first is but a splendid misery.

    Permalink to quote #29

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