Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia

If you want something you have never had (Spurious Quotation)

Find out whether Thomas Jefferson ever wrote or said, "If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done."

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: "If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done."

Variations: "If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done."

Earliest known appearance in print: 20041

Earliest known appearance in print, attributed to Thomas Jefferson: 20122

Comments: This quotation has not been found in any of the writings of Thomas Jefferson.

- Anna Berkes, 2/4/13

Footnotes

  1. Journal of the National Medical Association 96, nos. 1-6 (2004): 162.
  2. Courtney Richards, I Am What You Say I Am (AuthorHouse, 2012), 137.