Thomas Jefferson's favorate books were:

[Quixote1818]

Don Quixote and Homer's Odyssey

So what does this say about Jefferson?

[seg4527]

1. i found this interesting about jefferson

i'm reading a book about political campaigns right now. apparently jefferson was attacked as being an atheist (he was actually a deist) and an anarchist. they scared people by saying if he was elected, he would take away everybody's bibles.

i'm not sure what you're looking for exactly though.

[Quixote1818]

3. I chose to use the handle Quixote because I had heard it was TJ's

favorite book. I find it interesting that he would be so attracted to such a book about a guy who was off his rocker on a quest to save the world. The book is a duologue between Quixote and Sancho who are symbolic characters that represent each of us and both sides of our personalities. The part that is starry eyed and wants to soar above the clouds and the part that is guided by reason and keeps it's feet planted firmly on the ground. Jefferson wrote about his head and his heart. It seems to me that he was fascinated by the balance of the beauty of inspiration and impossible dreams and common sense and reason. I would like to discuss what others make of this?

[flordehinojos]

5. there is more on jefferson, here:

http://www.jeffersonseyes.com/


from the introduction to the book by dr. gerry lower

JEFFERSON'S EYES
DEIST VIEWS Of BUSH WORLD
Dr. Gerald M. Lower, Jr.

INTRODUCTION

The Death of the American Politic RIP (1776 to 2000 AD)

Jeffersonian Democracy was dead in principle with the Reagan administration's pandering to the religious right for votes and it was dead in fact the moment the Bush administration brought "compassionate" conservatism into the Oval Office. Recognition of this fact is where American citizens properly begin in their quest for comprehension and control of their own destinies.

[autorank]

2. Uh, you're the Quixote, you tell us. Jefferson did his own bible.

http://www.angelfire.com/co/JeffersonBible/

He thought the New Testament needed to reflect the true intent of Jesus. What a guy!

I think someone should publish this as a rational alternative to the stupidity out there about religion. In Virginia, you can criticize just about anyone but even many Republicans bow before Jefferson (but not the fundies).

OK, it's a duality thing -- a hopeless romantic tilting at windmills and a determined, ingenious, hero reaching his seemingly impossible goal; our minds are composed of both parts. I don't know. Tell me the answer.

[Quixote1818]

4. You are on the right track. See my post above

That was my take but I could be completely wrong. You seemed to home in on some of the same thoughts I had.

[autorank]

6. Quixote1818...it's a psychic connection!

[autorank]

7. Your explanation is more articulate. Maybe the relationship between Don

Quixote and The Odyssey is the relationship between Quixote and Sancho as you describe it. I was always struck by the humanity of Odysseus as he moved through a world of mystery and spectacle. He was reflective and humorous while showing great cleverness and heroism. My favorite scene is as he's pulling away from the raging Cyclops, clearly out of reach, he stands at the end of the boat, waves his sword and threatens Cyclops. It's very funny, totally human. Maybe he liked Odysseus because The Odyssey showed man navigating through and prevailing over the 'magical' version of the world at that time. Who knows.

[Quixote1818]

8. This is an interesting take:

>>>>Maybe he liked Odysseus because The Odyssey showed man navigating through and prevailing over the 'magical' version of the world at that time. Who knows.

I think Jefferson knew he had the opportunity to impact a newborn country and possibly the world. Perhaps he saw himself as characters in these books? Or at least he related to the characters as being like himself. He was very much like Don Quixote. His bill for Religious freedom and idea to separate church and state had a major impact on helping to right many of the worlds wrongs.

[autorank]

11. Exactly, he realized his reverie about human rights & he was like

Odysseus in that each major undertaking was a unique adventure without much precedent and these were dangerous adventures. The things written about him by the press make the attacks on Clinton seem mild. Maybe Jefferson civilized, to a degree, the new world by letting loose his Quixotic musings. My favorite monument in DC is the Jefferson Memorial. His sayings are embedded into the ceiling of the memorial. They are just amazing and quite provocative. We'd be arrested if we said them, word for word, in public today.

[Quixote1818]

13. What you said about "unique adventure without much precedent"

I believe is dead on. Their is no doubt Jefferson was a very spiritual person but he claimed his spirituality to be unique to himself alone. I think he wanted everyone to find their unique spiritual path and it could have a God or not have a God in it as long as it was unique to who you were.

[MisterP]

12. or perhaps how surreal and mysterious the world, then and now, is

[autorank]

15. That's a good point. You get that feeling in Mason & Dixon, just

how wonderous, among other things, this place must have been.

Funny note: for a moment, I thought this thread was in The Lounge, then I looked again and breathed easier. This sort of discussion can't take place in The Lounge.

[jdj]

9. I found this link tonight where he is listed among "African presidents"

because apparently his blood is mixed African and European.

I don't know how they documented this, but I found it interesting.

http://www.heptune.com/preslist.html#Families

[Quixote1818]

10. Richard Nixon was a Quaker? Interesting, he sure didn't act like one.

nt

[Quixote1818]

14. I never new that either. That is something I will have to check into. nt