Rules To Live By In America

Thomas Jefferson,  Third President, 1801-1809

Jefferson's Rules:

1. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
3. Never spend money before you have earned it.
4. Never buy what you don't want because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.
5. Take care of your cents: Dollars will take care of themselves.
6. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold.
7. We seldom repent of having eaten too little.
8. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
9. How much pain the evils have cost us that have never happened.
10. Take things always by the smooth handle.*
11. Think as you please, and so let others, and you will have no disputes.
12. When angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, count a hundred.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
From "Canons of Conduct" Written for his namesake Thomas Jefferson Smith, Feb. 21, 1825.

* meaning, "the exchange of ideas must always be civil" or interpreted by the reader. (monticello.org)

Jefferson pared down this list in later life to exclude 5 and 11. Maybe he had money issues and disputes after all.