Thomas Jefferson was quite a guy – spoke several languages, drafted the Declaration of Independence, founded the University of Virginia, and was keenly interested in sciences. He personally designed the architecture of his home Monticello so that, among many other interesting features, he could be reading and easily carrying multiple books at all times. “I cannot live without books” is one of his famous quotes.
While the Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal” and have a right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” the author Thomas Jefferson also had over 600 slaves over his lifetime at Monticello, creating a curious contradiction.
