“I agree with you that there is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents…”

— Thomas Jefferson

Letter to John Adams (28 October 1813)
1810s
Variant: There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents.
Context: I agree with you that there is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents... The natural aristocracy I consider as the most precious gift of nature, for the instruction, the trusts, and government of society... Every one, by his property, or by his satisfactory situation, is interested in the support of law and order. And such men may safely and advantageously reserve to themselves a wholesome control over their public affairs, and a degree of freedom, which, in the hands of the canaille [the masses] of the cities of Europe, would be instantly perverted to the demolition and destruction of everything public and private.

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Thomas Jefferson 456

3rd President of the United States of America 1743–1826

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