Quotes
Quotes - Adams
Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.
In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.
Nothing in education is so astonishing as the amount of ignorance it accumulates in the form of inert facts.
Thomas Jefferson still survives.
Mankind are governed more by their feelings than by reason.
One friend in a lifetime is much, two are many, three are hardly possible. Friendship needs a certain parallelism of life, a community of thought, a rivalry of aim.
Nearer, my God, to Thee-- Nearer to Thee-- E'en though it be a cross That raiseth me; Still all my song shall be Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it ill behaves any of us to find fault with the rest of us.
Fear is the foundation of most governments.
The declaration that our People are hostile to a government made by themselves, for themselves, and conducted by themselves, is an insult.
Yesterday the greatest question was decided which was ever debated in America; and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be, decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that those United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.
. . . The manners of women are the surest criterion by which to determine whether a republican government is practicable in a nation or not.
Not stones, nor wood, nor the art of artisans make a state; but where men are who know how to take care of themselves, these are cities and walls.
The covetous man pines in plenty, like Tantalus up to the chin in water, and yet thirsty.
Grief drives men into habits of serious reflection, sharpens understanding and softens the heart. -John Adams.
I have written too much history to have faith in it; and if anyone thinks I'm wrong, I am inclined to agree with him.
Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.
No historian can take part with--or against--the forces he has to study. To him even the extinction of the human race should merely be a fact to be grouped with other vital statistics.
Posterity: you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.
Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.
A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof was to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so.
There are obviously two educations. One should teach us how to make a living. The other should teach us how to live.
A genius is one who can do anything except make a living.
