FILIPPO MAZZEI
December 27, 2011
 

In 1774, Filippo Mazzei wrote an article he wished to have published in The Virginia Gazette.

He asked his close friend and neighbor, Thomas Jefferson to translate his Italian into English.
 

"Tutti gli uomini sono per natura egualmente liberi e indipendenti.
Quest' eguaglianza è necessaria per costituire un governo libero.
Bisogna che ognuno sia uguale all'altro nel diritto naturale."

 
All men are by nature equally free and independent.
Such equality is necessary in order to create a free government.
All men must be equal to each other in natural law. .

Just two years later, Thomas Jefferson would paraphrase his close friend and write the words....
 

"....and all men are created equal...."