The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
UNITED STATES / CONDITIONS AND PROSPECTS
Our difficulties are indeed great, if we consider ourselves alone.
But when viewed in comparison to those of Europe, they are the joys of
Paradise. In the eternal revolution of ages, the destinies have placed
our portion of existence amidst such scenes of tumult and outrage, as
no other period, within our knowledge, had presented. Every government
but one on the continent of Europe, demolished, a conqueror roaming
over the earth with havoc and destruction, a pirate spreading misery
and ruin over the face of the ocean. Indeed, my friend, ours is a bed
of roses. And the system of government which shall keep us afloat
amidst the wreck of the world, will be immortalized in history. We
have, to be sure, our petty squabbles and heart burnings, and we have
something of the blue devils at times, as to these rawheads and
bloodybones who are eating up other nations. But happily for us, the
Mammoth cannot swim, nor the Leviathan move on dry land; and if we
will keep out of their way, they cannot get at us.
to Walter Jones, 5 March 1810
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