Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia

In matters of style, swim with the current...(Spurious Quotation)

Find out if Jefferson ever said or wrote, “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”

A modern-day portrait of Thomas Jefferson in early 19-century attire with a speech bubble next to his head that says, "I said what?!"

Quotation: “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”

Variations:

  1. “In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current.”
  2. “If you would have a happy family life, remember two things – in matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current.”

Sources consulted (searching “stand like a rock” and “swim with the current”):

  1. Papers of Thomas Jefferson Digital Edition
  2. Hathi Trust Digital Library
  3. Google Books
  4. JSTOR
  5. America’s Historical Newspapers
  6. 19th Century United States Newspapers
  7. America Periodicals Series Online

Earliest known appearance in print: 1891 (as the second variation) 1

Earliest known appearance in print, attributed to Jefferson: 1973 (as the first variation) 2

Comments: It is clear that the quotation came into use at least as early as the 19th century, although when it was used, it was not attributed to a particular author and was often referred to as an “old adage.” It is not clear where the phrase originated from, but there is no proof that Jefferson ever uttered these words. It appears that the phrase became connected to Jefferson around 1973, and from then on, it is almost always attributed to him when quoted - usually in the context of homemaking or education.

- Elizabeth Huff, June 8, 2011

Footnotes

  1. More Borrowings (San Francisco: C.A. Murdock and Co., 1891), 39
  2. California Accountant Volumes 28-30 (Society of California Accountants, 1973), l:70