dedicated himself completely to the move for Independence, as mentioned before with the Declaration of Independence, and his prominent role in politics. He constantly sought knowledge, and had an immense collection of rare works at his house in Monticello.He wasn’t bogged down by guilt or fear, rather he was driven by his desire to help his fellow people. “Moticello was the place Jefferson most associated with a sense of self, the perfect symbol of his inner life: the practical, well-ordered dreamworld…with the heart of an amicable philosophic man given to rational concerns.” (9)Time and again, people referred to Jefferson’s “sympathetic wit.” (8) His sense of humor was that of the time in which he lived: philosophical. They were not prone to mockery or belittlement for humor, rather they found humor in musings, and ideas which required thought.He was extrememly creative and original, another trait Maslow attributed to self-actualization. “Having devoted himself to Monticello and then to Poplar Forest, Jefferson energetically promoted and proceeded to design and oversee construction of one more architectural marval: the University of Virginia. He concerned himself with every detail, from the selection of professors and framing of the curriculum to note taking at board meetings.” (254)“In retirement, as Jefferson reassessed his life, he gave much thought to the prospect of eternal rest. With seven decades and more to reflect upon, he had few pressing goals and little fear of death. He dwelled contentedly on ancient assessments of the human contition. With entertaining thoughts of mortality in his third decade, however, he had been a learner, filled with imagination of limitless horizons.” (255) Maslow stated that self-actualized people have feelings of unlimited horizons, that they feel that they can do anything.In conclusion, Maslow himself believed that T...
