May we be ‘a barrier against the returns of ignorance and barbarism’!

“May we be ‘a barrier against the returns of ignorance and barbarism’!”

May we be ‘a barrier against the returns of ignorance and barbarism’! ‘What a colossus shall we be’! But will it not be of brass, iron and clay? Your taste is judicious in liking better the dreams of the future than the history of the past. Upon this principle I prophesy that you and I shall soon meet and be better friends than ever.

Year: 1816
Context: Reply to a letter from Thomas Jefferson
Shortlink: http://fq1.us/cm

Notations:

Read an excerpt of Thomas Jefferson’s letter which initiated this reply…

Keywords: Your taste is judicious, barbarism, barrier, better friends than ever, brass, colossus, dreams of the future, history of the past, ignorance, iron and clay, principle, prophesy, you and I shall soon meet

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