Thomas Jefferson's Italian and Italian-Related Books in the History of Universal Personal Rights

An exploration of the Italian references and inspirations found across the writings of Thomas Jefferson.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

—Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence

“[T]u vedrai noi d’una massa di carne tutti la carne avere e da uno medesimo creatore tutte l’anime con iguali forze, con iguali potenze, con iguali vertù create. La vertù primieramente noi, che tutti nascemmo e nasciamo iguali, ne distinse...”

“[Y]ou will see that we all have flesh from the same mass of flesh and from the same creator all have souls created with equal forces, with equal powers, and with equal capabilities. Capability is the first thing that distinguished us, who all have been born and are born equal...”

—Giovanni Boccaccio, Decameron