Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness Paperback - 2005
by Thomas Jefferson; Eric Petersen (Editor)
First line
I have ever thought religion a concern purely between our God and our consciences, for which we were accountable to Him, and not to the priests.
From the jacket flap
Were Thomas Jefferson alive to read this book, he would recognize every sentence, every elegant turn of phrase, every lofty, beautifully expressed idea. Indeed, every word in the book is his. In an astonishing feat of editing, Eric S. Petersen has culled the entirety of Thomas Jefferson's published works to fashion thirty-four original essays on themes ranging from patriotism and liberty to hope, humility, and gratitude. The result is a lucid, inspiring distillation of the wisdom of one of America's greatest political thinkers.
From his personal motto--"Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God"--to his resounding discourse on "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson defined the essential truth of the American spirit. In the essays that Petersen has crafted from letters, speeches, and public documents, Jefferson's unique moral philosophy and vision shine through. Among the hundreds of magnificent sentences gathered in this volume, here are Jefferson's pronouncements on Gratitude: "I have but one system of ethics for men and for nations--
to be grateful, to be faithful to all engagements and under all circumstances, to be open and generous." Religion: "A concern purely between our God and our consciences."
America's national character: "It is part of the American character to consider nothing as desperate; to surmount every difficulty with resolution and contrivance." Public debt: "We shall all consider ourselves unauthorized to saddle posterity with our debts, and morally bound to pay them ourselves."
War: "I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind." In stately measured cadences, thesethirty-four essays provide timeless guidance on leading a spiritually fulfilling life. Light and Liberty is a triumphant work of supreme eloquence, as uplifting today as when Jefferson first set these immortal sentences on paper.
"From the Hardcover edition.
Details
- Title Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness
- Author Thomas Jefferson; Eric Petersen (Editor)
- Binding Paperback
- Edition Modern Library P
- Pages 154
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Modern Library, New York, New York, U.S.A.
- Date June 14, 2005
- Features Bibliography, Table of Contents
- ISBN 9780812974324 / 0812974328
- Weight 0.35 lbs (0.16 kg)
- Dimensions 8 x 5.1 x 0.4 in (20.32 x 12.95 x 1.02 cm)
-
Themes
- Chronological Period: 18th Century
- Chronological Period: 1800-1850
- Dewey Decimal Code B
Excerpt
Media reviews
More Copies for Sale
Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness (Modern Library Classics)
by Jefferson, Thomas
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780812974324 / 0812974328
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, United States
- Item Price
-
€4.03€3.76 shipping to USA
Show Details
Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness (Modern Library Classics)
by Jefferson, Thomas; Petersen, Eric [Editor]
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780812974324 / 0812974328
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Kingwood, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
€4.92FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness (Modern Library Classics)
by Jefferson, Thomas; Petersen, Eric [Editor]
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780812974324 / 0812974328
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
- Item Price
-
€4.92FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Light and Liberty : Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness
by Jefferson, Thomas
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780812974324 / 0812974328
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Reno, Nevada, United States
- Item Price
-
€5.40FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Light and Liberty : Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness
by Jefferson, Thomas
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780812974324 / 0812974328
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
- Item Price
-
€5.40FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Light and Liberty : Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness
by Jefferson, Thomas
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780812974324 / 0812974328
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
- Item Price
-
€5.40FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness
by Thomas Jefferson
- Used
- very good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780812974324 / 0812974328
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
€5.65FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Light and Liberty : Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness
by Thomas Jefferson
- Used
- very good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780812974324 / 0812974328
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
€5.65FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Light and Liberty : Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness
by Thomas Jefferson
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780812974324 / 0812974328
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
€5.65FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Light and Liberty : Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness
by Jefferson, Thomas
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780812974324 / 0812974328
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
- Item Price
-
€6.68FREE shipping to USA