Book · 1784 · Description and travel
Notes on the state of Virginia
Notes on the state of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson, Logan, James has been mentioned in 8 episodes across 4 podcasts (0 episodes recommend it and 8 episodes discuss it), through . Most frequently brought up by Robert Evans (4 episodes), Clay Jenkinson (1 episode) and Ken Burns (1 episode) on Behind the Bastards (5 episodes), The Book Review (1 episode) and The Megyn Kelly Show (1 episode).
- episodes
- 8
- podcasts
- 4
- people
- 5
- episodes recommend it
- 0
Thomas Jefferson did a little bit in his Notes on the State of Virginia. It's very, very complicated, but we're always looking for a way to say that some people are more equal than others.
Questions about Notes on the state of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson, Logan, James
Who has discussed Notes on the state of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson, Logan, James on podcasts?
No speaker in our archive has explicitly recommended Notes on the state of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson, Logan, James; Robert Evans (4 episodes), Clay Jenkinson (1 episode), Ken Burns (1 episode), Michael Phillips (1 episode) and Pamela Paul (1 episode) have discussed it across 4 podcasts (5 people in all).
Which podcasts mention Notes on the state of Virginia the most?
Behind the Bastards (5 episodes), The Book Review (1 episode), The Megyn Kelly Show (1 episode) and This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von (1 episode).
Is Notes on the state of Virginia recommended, or only discussed?
Notes on the state of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson, Logan, James was recommended in 0 episodes and discussed without a recommendation in 8 episodes, as of 2025-10-07.
What do people say about Notes on the state of Virginia?
Ken Burns on This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von (2025-10-07): "Thomas Jefferson did a little bit in his Notes on the State of Virginia. It's very, very complicated, but we're always looking for a way to say that some people are more equal than others."
When was Notes on the state of Virginia last mentioned on a podcast?
Notes on the state of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson, Logan, James was last discussed on This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von by Ken Burns on 2025-10-07.
What they say about it
- Discussing slavery“the evil of slavery”4
- Published in 1785“published in 1785”3
- Jefferson's only published book“his only published book”2
The best things said about it
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others.
So back during his years in France, when he had written Notes on the State of Virginia, Jefferson had written at length his belief that black people were not mentally capable of being free.
And Jefferson, in Notes on the State of Virginia, which is again him trying to defend the United States to France, writes about how these are one of the worst parts of this really cruel, hideous system.
Malone goes on to quote another line from Notes on the State of Virginia, which he describes as perhaps the most erudite summary of the evil of slavery: And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these.
Jefferson headed out in a place called Poles Forest and did what he was good at, he wrote; the work he did on the run would later make up his only published book, Notes on the State of Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson, a slave owner himself, realized this when he wrote his Notes on the State of Virginia in 1785.
Where and when it comes up
Most episodes, by podcast
5 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
Notes on the State of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson is the only book published by the founding father during his lifetime, originally written to provide a comprehensive description of Virginia while defending the United States to French intellectuals. The text was extensively discussed across several podcasts, including Behind the Bastards, where Robert Evans and Michael Phillips analyzed the historical document to expose the deep contradictions of Jefferson's legacy. Evans highlighted how the book contains Jefferson's lengthy assertions regarding his belief that Black people were not mentally capable of being free, serving as a primary text revealing his racist ideologies alongside his public rhetoric on liberty. Conversely, Phillips cited the book to examine Jefferson's stated views on government and religious freedom, while Ken Burns mentioned the work on This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von to discuss how early American leaders rationalized inequality and slavery. Guests on The Book Review also integrated the text into broader historical discussions regarding the history of race and racism in America. Across these discussions, speakers used Notes on the State of Virginia to grapple with the complex, often hypocritical foundations of early American democracy and the dark realities of the institution of slavery.
Every mention
Robert Evans So back during his years in France, when he had written Notes on the State of Virginia, Jefferson had writt… 4
“So back during his years in France, when he had written Notes on the State of Virginia, Jefferson had written at length his belief that black people were not mentally capable of being free.”
“But a few years earlier, right after he'd finished Notes on the State of Virginia, he sold one of the women he owned to a white man with the understanding that she would be freed by him and they would live as husband and wife.”
“And Jefferson, in Notes on the State of Virginia, which is again him trying to defend the United States to France, writes about how these are one of the worst parts of this really cruel, hideous system.”
“No, at all. Yeah. Malone goes on to quote another line from Notes on the State of Virginia, which he describes as perhaps the most erudite summary of the evil of slavery: And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these”
“the work he did on the Run would later make up his only published book notes on the state of Virginia”
“Jefferson headed out in a place called Poles Forest and did what he was good at, he wrote; the work he did on the run would later make up his only published book, Notes on the State of Virginia. And if you are a poli-sci student, you just shuddered a little bit; you had to read this son of a”
“notes on the state of Virginia was published in 1785 and then republished several times”
“Thomas Jefferson, a slave owner himself, realized this when he wrote his notes on the state of Virginia in 1785. Here's what he had to say.”
Clay Jenkinson and then he in 1774 he wrote a pamphlet which was published without his permission called a summary View an… 1
“and then he in 1774 he wrote a pamphlet which was published without his permission called a summary View and everyone in all the colonies thought this is a young man to reckon with”
Ken Burns Thomas Jefferson did a little bit in his notes on the state of Virginia. It's very very complicated, but we… 1
“Thomas Jefferson did a little bit in his notes on the state of Virginia. It's very very complicated, but we're always looking for a way to say that some people are more equal than others.”
Michael Phillips Here's the real Jefferson in his 1785 book, Notes on the State of Virginia. The legitimate powers of govern… 1
“Here's the real Jefferson in his 1785 book, Notes on the State of Virginia. The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others.”
Pamela Paul and for the next decade you take a very different tack with Thomas Jefferson's notes on the state of Virgin… 1
“and for the next decade you take a very different tack with Thomas Jefferson's notes on the state of Virginia but you also cite another book which I found fascinating”