Thomas Jefferson at 71 years of age wrote to John Adams (age…
Thomas Jefferson at 71 years of age wrote to John Adams (age 78) on July 5, 1814: “But our machines have now been running seventy or eighty years, and we must expect that worn as they are, here a pivot, there a wheel, now a pinion, next a spring, will be giving way; and however we may tinker them up for a while, all will at length surcease motions.” Taking Jefferson’s words literally, what lifetime stage did he talk about?