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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION
> Here's my question: in the Jefferson memorial there is a quote about > the developmental process that people's minds take and that the people > of Jefferson's time had progressed cognitively to the point that they > were now able to participate in a democracy. He seems to be making the > point that a society as a whole develops mentally and as this occurs, > the society becomes able to make a democracy "work." Do you have a > suggestion as to where I could find this quote (the book, collection of > letters, etc.)? I'd like to read more on the subject as written by > Jefferson. The writings on the walls of the Jefferson Memorial are listed at the following website: http://www.nps.gov/thje/jwrite.htm The one you are referring to is probably this one: "I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors." Taken from a letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816. That letter is in the Library of America volume of Jefferson's Writings (available in any public library), page 1395.