"In matters of style, swim with the current: in matters of principle, stand like a rock."
— Thomas Jefferson

January 1, 1970

Quote Details

Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Added on April 10, 2026
Unverified quote
0 likes
Presidents of the United StatesUnitarians from the United StatesFounding Fathers of the United States of AmericaUnited States Secretaries of StatePoliticians from Virginia
Original Language: English

Sources

"It is not clear where the phrase originated from, but there is no proof that Jefferson ever uttered these words." Huff, Elizabeth In matters of style, swim with the current...(Spurious Quotation). at Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia, Thomas Jefferson Foundation. June 8, 2011