Jefferson's Immortality (p471-p472)

(Setting:  Jefferson is sentenced to death by the sham trial, but he declares the immortality of his essence).

"Death isn’t as complete as we mortals fear", Jefferson said cryptically. "These cutthroats can execute me, but they can’t kill me. They can lock me up and throw away the key, but I will still be everywhere. I am eternal, because the ideas of passionate people penetrate every barrier, including the vale of death. As Franklin Roosevelt said, 'No man and no force can abolish memory. No man and no force can put thought in a concentration camp forever. No man and no force can take from the world the ideas that embody man's eternal fight against tyranny.' I have done for my country, and for all mankind, all that I could do. I cherished the opportunity to lead the battle for liberty. I sincerely believe that I’ve left the world better than I found it. Now, I resign my soul to the deeper completeness of eternity. Look upon my life and my ideas as inspiration. My body may be buried and eaten by worms, but my infectious spirit will live on. Let my ideas and my inspiration make you think and be moved."