Peace and abstinence from European interferences are our

“Peace and abstinence from European interferences are our objects, and so will continue while the present order of things in America remain uninterrupted.” So declared Thomas Jefferson, the sage of Monticello and architect of liberty. His words were not the boast of a conqueror, but the solemn vow of a nation newly born, a nation weary of the intrigues and entanglements of the Old World. In this declaration, Jefferson laid bare the heart of early America’s vision: that its strength would lie not in the ambitions of empire, but in the cultivation of peace, in freedom from the endless quarrels of kings, and in the preservation of a new and fragile order on this side of the ocean.

The ancients knew the peril of foreign entanglements. The city-states of Greece, often brilliant in philosophy and art, wasted their lifeblood in ceaseless wars, lured by alliances and rivalries. Rome, too, though mighty, stretched itself thin across the world, entangled in the politics of every land it conquered, until it became consumed by its own vastness. Jefferson, who drank deeply from the wisdom of antiquity, saw this fate clearly. He sought to protect his republic from the interferences of Europe, where monarchs schemed, where nations shifted like waves, and where peace was broken by ambition as surely as day follows night. His was a vision of withdrawal—not in weakness, but in strength, so that America might grow uncorrupted by the decay of the old order.

History proved his foresight. Not long after Jefferson’s time, the young nation was tested by war in 1812, when Britain once again sought to assert its will over American freedom. Yet even then, the guiding spirit of the republic was not conquest abroad, but defense of independence at home. Jefferson’s words remind us that the founding of America was not for plunder, nor for empire, but for the cultivation of liberty and peace within its borders, so long as that order was preserved. His call was not for eternal isolation, but for vigilance: to avoid being dragged into battles not our own, to guard the nation’s soul against the ambitions of foreign crowns.

Consider, too, the example of George Washington, who in his farewell address counseled his people to beware “entangling alliances.” Like Jefferson, he saw that a young republic must walk carefully, lest it be consumed by the struggles of older powers. Both men understood that a nation’s first duty was to preserve the well-being of its people, and that peace at home was more glorious than war abroad. Their wisdom stands as an eternal warning: those who abandon peace for interference risk losing both.

Yet Jefferson’s words must not be read as weakness, nor as cowardice. They are the words of one who understood that true strength lies in self-command. To abstain from meddling in others’ affairs is not to shrink, but to choose wisely where to stand. A nation that guards its own order, that nurtures its own freedom, builds a fortress stronger than walls or armies. For what power is greater than a people united, free from the poisons of foreign intrigue, devoted to their own flourishing? This was Jefferson’s dream: that America would be a beacon, not a pawn; a land of peace, not of endless quarrels.

The lesson is clear: in our own lives, as in the lives of nations, we must learn when to abstain from interference. It is easy to be drawn into the quarrels of others, to waste our strength in disputes not our own. But wisdom counsels us to guard our energy, to cultivate our homes, our communities, our souls. Just as Jefferson sought to preserve the order of his young nation, so too must we preserve the order of our lives, protecting them from the endless distractions and conflicts of the world.

Practical actions follow. Seek peace first in your home and your heart. Resist the temptation to involve yourself in every conflict, every rumor, every rivalry. Choose carefully where to spend your energy, for time is the coin of life, and to waste it on battles not your own is to impoverish your soul. Build strength by guarding your own house, and when the time comes to act, act with clarity and purpose. For just as Jefferson taught a nation, so too must each of us remember: true power lies not in meddling everywhere, but in preserving what is ours, with dignity and with peace.

Thus, Jefferson’s words echo through time: Peace and abstinence from interferences are not weakness, but wisdom. To preserve order at home, to resist the seduction of needless quarrels, is the path of endurance. Nations that heed this endure for centuries; men and women who live by it walk through life with serenity. And so I say to you: be like Jefferson—cherish peace, guard your order, and let not the noise of foreign battles draw you from the harmony that is yours to preserve.