Honesty Is the 1st Chapter in the Book of Wisdom

Thomas Jefferson? Apocryphal?

Dear Quote Investigator: A large number of the quotations attributed to Thomas Jefferson are apocryphal; hence, I have learned to be cautious. Do you know whether the following remark is from the pen of Jefferson?

Honesty is the first chapter of the book wisdom.

Any help would be appreciated.

Quote Investigator: Thomas Jefferson sent a two page letter to Nathaniel Macon on January 12, 1819. The saying about honesty appeared on the second page. Emphasis added to excerpts by QI:[ref] Library of Congress, Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Macon, (Page 2 of 2 Images), Date of letter: January 12, 1819, Location of letter writer: Monticello, Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Washington D.C. (Accessed loc.gov on July 21, 2019) link [/ref]

Whether the succeeding generation is to be more virtuous than their predecessors, I cannot say; but I am sure they will have more worldly wisdom, and enough, I hope, to know that honesty is the 1st chapter in the book of wisdom.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

The website of the U.S. Library of Congress hosts images of many important historical documents. Below is a reduced-size image of the second page of Jefferson’s letter containing the quotation. Lines added by QI on the left and right of the page indicate the location of the remark.

Between 1892 and 1899 a ten volume series presenting “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson” was published under the editorship of Paul Leicester Ford. A transcription of the 1819 letter was included. The handwritten letter contained “1st”, but the transcription contained “first”:[ref] 1899, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Collected and Edited by Paul Leicester Ford, Volume X: 1816 to 1826, Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Macon, Date of letter: January 12, 1819, Location of letter writer: Monticello, Start Page 119, Quote Page 122, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York. (HathiTrust Full View) link [/ref]

Whether the succeeding generation is to be more virtuous than their predecessors, I cannot say ; but I am sure they will have more worldly wisdom, and enough, I hope, to know that honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.

In 1900 “The Jeffersonian Cyclopedia: A Comprehensive Collection of the Views of Thomas Jefferson” edited by John P. Foley appeared. This reference included the saying under exploration and pointed to Ford’s multi-volume work:[ref] 1900, The Jeffersonian Cyclopedia: A Comprehensive Collection of the Views of Thomas Jefferson, Edited by John P. Foley, Topic: Wisdom and Honesty, Quote Number 3784, Quote Page 410, Column 2, Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York. (Google Books Full View) link [/ref]

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.–To Nathaniel Macon. vii, 112. Ford ed., x, 122. (M., 1819.)

The valuable Monticello website of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation has a webpage about the quotation which cites the 1819 letter from Jefferson to Macon.[ref] Website: Monticello – Thomas Jefferson, Article title: Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom (Quotation), Article source: Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia, Section: Famous Quotations, Website description: Information for Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. (Accessed web.monticello.org on July 21, 2019) link [/ref]

In conclusion, Thomas Jefferson should receive credit for the words about honesty he wrote in the letter dated January 12, 1819.

Image Notes: Picture of Monticello, the former residence of Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, Virginia from skeeze at Pixabay.

(Great thanks to Andrew Wetzel whose inquiry led QI to formulate this question and perform this exploration.)