He was a lawyer. He was a farmer. He was an architect who designed beautiful buildings. And, he was a politician who served in the Virginia legislature.

He wrote the Declaration of Independence. He founded the University of Virginia. He was the 3rd president of the United States. And, while he was president, he bought a large section of land from France that doubled the size of the United States (Jefferson’s big buy was called The Louisiana Purchase.).

Yes, Thomas Jefferson was a man of many talents. You’ve got talents, too. And, the best way to say “thank you” for those talents is to use them, just like Thomas Jefferson used his.

Fun Fact: Thomas Jefferson loved technology, science, and inventions. One of his favorite devices was a rotating bookstand that could hold five books at once.

Fun Fact: Thomas Jefferson loved to read, and he loved books. In fact, he had one of the largest personal libraries in America.

Fun Fact: In 1814, the original Library of Congress was attacked by British troops who burned all the books. Jefferson offered his personal library as a replacement. In 1815, the Library of Congress was restocked by purchasing Jefferson’s 6,487 books.

Fun Fact: Thomas Jefferson loved to write. It’s been estimated that he wrote about 19,000 letters during his lifetime. Sometimes, he also used a machine called a polygraph that made copies as he wrote.

Fun Fact: Jefferson was also an architect and builder. He designed his home in Virginia. The house is called Monticello. It took him more than 40 years to complete the house’s 33 rooms.

Quotes by Thomas Jefferson

“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”

“I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.”

“Take care of your cents; dollars will take care of themselves.”

“Every day is lost in which we do not learn something useful. Man has no nobler or more valuable possession than time.”

“When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.”

“Delay is preferable to error.”