Sunday, April 3, 2011

Thomas Jefferson's Guide on How to Behave!

Much like Poor Richard's Thirteen Virtues, our third president and author of the Declaration of Independence also had his own rules of conduct. Despite it being over 200 years old, many if not all of these ideas are still relevant today. I believe that taking advice from one of the founding fathers of this nation is never a bad thing.

Here are Thomas Jefferson's Rules of Conduct:
  1. Never put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today (Very useful if you really want to get things done)
  2. Never trouble another for what you can do for yourself (Self-help is the common denominator of all successful people)
  3. Never spend money before you have it (We've all learned the value of this rule ... or have we?)
  4. Never buy anything you do not want because it is cheap (Good response to Groupon, Living Social and any other deal sites that tempt you to buy things you don't really want)
  5. Take care of your change; dollars will take care of themselves ("Sweat the small stuff") 
  6. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold (I think it is safe to assume we all know how expensive and costly pride can be)
  7. We never repent for having eaten too little (I've never had a good feeling walking out of a buffet - also I hear those who eat less calories/day live longer)
  8. Nothing is troublesome that one does of his own volition (Have a passion and you'll never be unfulfilled - what's mundane to one person may not be so to another)
  9. How much pain has cost us the evils which have never happened (Stop worrying - you're just wasting energy that can be better used)
  10. Take things always by their smooth handle (Always use tact and go for win-win outcomes)
  11. Think as you please, and so let others, and you will have no disputes (Don't judge, everyone has their own truth and perceptions so respect that)
  12. When annoyed, count 10 before you speak. If very annoyed, count 100 (Works every time, just try it)

The actual document from www.monticello.org