We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
不過,另一個翻譯錯誤問題就大了,就是把所有人都被平等地創造出來,all men are created equal,翻譯成“所有人生而平等”。傑弗遜,以及美國國父的一代人,從來沒有說過人人生而平等的話。他們當中不僅很多人蓄養奴隸,而且他們一致認為即便是自由民,也要擁有財產才有選舉權。換句話說,他們並不認同人人生而平等。