“I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post, which any human power can give.”

Yet he became The President?

And they, the they that is, ask me why I spend so many hours at the U of Mich law library. And I respond, "Because I realize how little that I know and because all of the books are there at that federal depository! So there!

Blah, blah, blah. Nice quote but given the real choice he lived in a beautiful home surronded with slaves and died leaving a large amount owing for the stocking of his wine cellar.

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,/ And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:/ Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;/ And live alone in the bee-loud glade./

Easier said than done. We all have some awareness of our heart's desire, and yet our insecurity, our desire to appear more than we are, our lack of acceptance of our God-given selves, drives us to "strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield". We are each at war with ourselves.

I like your comments Byron!

To know the man's heart gives rise to the greatness where his sense of duty out weighed the simpler calls of life.

We can't afford how the world rolls, degrading itself, as it does.
We the people, must guide it in its natural designation.  The new rejenerative direction is going take a lot of effort. The childish games, as all games are childish, must cease, so the honest efforts can begin.

This is essentially what I do; however, watching the powers-that-should-not-be take over the world grants me no peace.  Lord help us!

I'm glad Jefferson did more than that because the Declaration of Independence stands as one of the greatest masterpieces of political expression ever crafted!