Industry: Thomas Jefferson's Reading List

For Thomas Jefferson, industry was a form of steady self-discipline essential to the cultivation of character. It meant the careful ordering of daily life, devoted to reading, writing, observation, and correspondence, and the continuous exercise of judgment. Through these disciplined habits, Jefferson believed individuals developed perseverance, responsibility, and the capacity for reasoned self-government. Industry, in this sense, was not merely personal diligence but preparation for the duties of civic life.

Seen through the lens of Jefferson’s understanding of character formation, industry functioned as a moral framework rather than a measure of productivity alone. It guided the alignment of action with principle, shaping how ambition was restrained by judgment and purpose. Jefferson understood such self-discipline as a foundation for lifelong learning and for the exercise of citizenship in a constitutional democracy that depended on the character of its people.

Thomas Jefferson exemplified the ideals of self-improvement through his commitment to lifelong learning and disciplined habits. He believed in the transformative power of education, dedicating himself to classical studies, rigorous reading, and intellectual exploration. Jefferson’s disciplined approach extended to physical exercise, which he regarded as essential for maintaining both mental and physical health.

Jefferson’s vision of self-improvement was deeply rooted in the Enlightenment ideals of reason and progress. He saw education and self-discipline as pathways to personal fulfillment and societal advancement. By striving for continuous growth, Jefferson sought to embody the virtues of an enlightened citizen and leader.

Despite his ideals of self-discipline and self-improvement, Jefferson’s reliance on enslaved labor reveals a profound contradiction. His pursuit of tranquility and intellectual endeavors was made possible by the exploitation of enslaved people. This dependence undermines the moral foundation of his philosophy, highlighting the dissonance between his principles and practices. 

Jefferson’s rationalization of slavery reflects the complexities of his character and the broader societal norms of his time. While he espoused ideals of liberty and equality, his actions perpetuated systems of oppression. This contradiction serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges in reconciling moral ideals with lived realities.

The Founders distinguished between alienable rights, which individuals can give up or transfer to government for limited purposes, and unalienable rights, which cannot be given away at all. A right is unalienable when it cannot be transferred to another person because it can only be exercised by the individual, as in matters of conscience, belief, or moral judgment. By contrast, rights are alienable when they can be entrusted to government for practical ends such as maintaining order or enforcing agreements.

Thinkers such as Francis Hutcheson, John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison argued that freedom of conscience is unalienable. Our opinions and beliefs do not arise from choice or command, but from the evidence our minds consider. Because no one can think on behalf of another person, freedom of thought cannot be transferred to government, even voluntarily. While laws may rightly regulate outward actions that cause harm, they must leave opinions and beliefs free.

In the Founders’ understanding, the pursuit of happiness was unalienable for the same reason as freedom of conscience. Happiness did not mean pleasure or prosperity alone, but the inward work of judgment, self-restraint, and moral reasoning. Because these activities take place within the mind, they cannot be directed, surrendered, or exercised by another person or by government.

Property, by contrast, was understood as an alienable natural right. To make property secure and useful in society, individuals must transfer certain controls over it to government through law, contract, and regulation. Thomas Jefferson replaced “property” with “the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence to highlight this distinction, grounding the nation’s founding promise in rights that depend on self-government of the mind rather than control over external things