Forgive Us Our Trespasses

Thomas Jefferson created this compilation by cutting out excerpts from six New Testament volumes in English, French, Latin, and Greek, and then assembling them into a single volume. He arranged the passages in chronological order, omitting references to miracles, the Virgin Birth, and the Resurrection. The work emphasizes Jesus' moral teachings, particularly the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. Jefferson intended this compilation for his personal use, reflecting his rationalist approach to Christianity as a moral system rather than a religion.

Written in 1896 and first published in 1910, 'If—' is a poem that advises on how to rise above adversity and live a life of integrity. The speaker, addressing his son, outlines various scenarios and virtues necessary to 'be a Man,' including the ability to keep one's head in chaos, trust oneself despite doubt, and treat triumph and disaster equally. The poem is structured as a series of conditional 'if' clauses leading to a final 'then' clause, emphasizing a quintessentially British brand of stoicism and the importance of maintaining a strong will and moral character.