T
homas Jefferson was not a perfect man, but he did inspire perfection. In addition to serving as President
of the United States, Jefferson achieved success as an architect, author, inventor, horticulturist,
archaeologist, paleontologist, and the founder of the University of Virginia, among other roles. A boy named Thomas
Jefferson Smith wrote his namesake to ask if the president could offer any advice to direct a young man down the
path to success. Taking the opportunity to impart some wisdom and crystallize his own rules to live by, President
Jefferson compiled this list of ten rules for the boy. The result is a timeless list, reflecting the cool,
disciplined demeanor of its author, whose philosophy is as relevant today as it was centuries ago.


