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Magnificent. A tremendous book that more than does justice to one of our noblest founding fathers and greatest of public servants.
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What can I say? This book took me months to read and challenged my thinking on a number of preconceptions I had about the Revolution and the Founders. Instead of "correcting" me and forcing me into a new way of thinking, McCullough gently and deftly inspired me to soak in everything he had to say about Adams and to seek out biographies of other Founders to compare and contrast the men, their ideas and their accounts of history. This book is verbose but in a very engaging and pleasant way. It would seem to the reader that McCullough believes Adams to be the primary hero of our nation's birth and establishment and I suspect that he might be right. I knew little of Adams before reading this text but I have fallen in love with he and Abigail and plan to read their letters as a follow up.
I wish that every high school in America would throw away their white washed, pc, editorialist American history textbooks and require all students to read biographies like this. Our passion for America, her heroes and her challenges could only be kindled by such a move.
I wish that every high school in America would throw away their white washed, pc, editorialist American history textbooks and require all students to read biographies like this. Our passion for America, her heroes and her challenges could only be kindled by such a move.
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This book means a lot to me. It is the first book I ever read on the founding fathers. It's also the best.
And the competition is steep!
McCullough shows how Adams was brilliant, vain, principled, and devoted to his young country.
McCullough uses many primary sources to tell this story. The best: the wonderful, vivid, brilliant correspondence between John and his wife Abigail Adams. The correspondence is great world history and also reveals the close and intimate thoughts and aspirations of both John and Abigail.
McCullough tells about Adams's political ascension from a small town lawyer to founding father and second president. Adams was essential in the Continental Congress and in selecting George Washington to lead the Army. His diplomatic missions to France and Holland were as entertaining as they were crucial to the revolution's success.
Adams was a hero. But he was flawed, too. He supported the Alien and Sedition Acts. He was often rude and ornery. He was obbessed with Thomas Jefferson to such an extent that it clouded his judgment. McCullough brings out all these complexities with extraordinary insight and beautiful prose.
Perhaps the best part of the book covers Adams's later years, including his friendship with Jefferson and their letters. Incredibly, both men died on July 4, 1826.
If you had to read only one book about America's founding, this is that book. It's that good.
And the competition is steep!
McCullough shows how Adams was brilliant, vain, principled, and devoted to his young country.
McCullough uses many primary sources to tell this story. The best: the wonderful, vivid, brilliant correspondence between John and his wife Abigail Adams. The correspondence is great world history and also reveals the close and intimate thoughts and aspirations of both John and Abigail.
McCullough tells about Adams's political ascension from a small town lawyer to founding father and second president. Adams was essential in the Continental Congress and in selecting George Washington to lead the Army. His diplomatic missions to France and Holland were as entertaining as they were crucial to the revolution's success.
Adams was a hero. But he was flawed, too. He supported the Alien and Sedition Acts. He was often rude and ornery. He was obbessed with Thomas Jefferson to such an extent that it clouded his judgment. McCullough brings out all these complexities with extraordinary insight and beautiful prose.
Perhaps the best part of the book covers Adams's later years, including his friendship with Jefferson and their letters. Incredibly, both men died on July 4, 1826.
If you had to read only one book about America's founding, this is that book. It's that good.
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I knew so little about Adams before reading this. I've heard some rank Jefferson as an historical figure they'd like to dine with: forget Jefferson! Adams is seemingly so under appreciated, but was a giant both in his role as a founder of the United States but also in character.
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In this well-written, engaging biography, David McCullough tells the story of John Adams' life and times in vivid detail. In McCullough's retelling, the man long overshadowed by Jefferson, Franklin, and his own cousin Sam finally receives his due, emerging as the hero of the revolution and of the early republic.
One may wonder, however, if in certain situations McCullough does not overstate his case. On the one hand, every achievement that Adams makes is portrayed as one of the greatest accomplishments in American history. Whether he is securing loans from the Dutch, meeting with the King of England, writing the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, he always appears to be engaged in some earth-shatteringly brave, bold, and brilliant effort on behalf of his country. On the other hand, Adams' foes are cast in a decidedly negative light. Thomas Jefferson emerges as a two-faced, spineless, spendthrift; Benjamin Franklin appears as an indolent womanizer with bad taste and no morals; Alexander Hamilton becomes an amoral, ambitious intriguer. To be sure, Jefferson, Franklin, and Hamilton had their flaws, but many of their actions could be interpreted differently, or at least more sympathetically, than McCullough does here. As it is, we know where McCullough's sympathies lie - with Adams, who emerges as a sort of virtuous American Cincinnatus, always longing to return home to Braintree, abhorrent of ambition and intrigue, but always forced by circumstance back into public life.
McCullough is not so biased, however, that he does not allow Adams' own flaws to stand for themselves, and he will almost reluctantly admit when Adams' judgment has failed him (such as during the passage of the ill-conceived Alien and Sedition Acts). What is truly wonderful about the book is that McCullough presents a picture of Adams the man, more than Adams the statesman, diplomat, or president. McCullough captures his deep love of his family, his deep love of home, which for Adams were indistinguishable from his patriotism - his acts on behalf of the country he loved were also acts of love for his family - and presents all the powerful forces that motivated this remarkable, passionate, fiery character. Politics are always personal, and the personal is always political, and nowhere was this more true, perhaps, than in the life of John Adams.
One may wonder, however, if in certain situations McCullough does not overstate his case. On the one hand, every achievement that Adams makes is portrayed as one of the greatest accomplishments in American history. Whether he is securing loans from the Dutch, meeting with the King of England, writing the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, he always appears to be engaged in some earth-shatteringly brave, bold, and brilliant effort on behalf of his country. On the other hand, Adams' foes are cast in a decidedly negative light. Thomas Jefferson emerges as a two-faced, spineless, spendthrift; Benjamin Franklin appears as an indolent womanizer with bad taste and no morals; Alexander Hamilton becomes an amoral, ambitious intriguer. To be sure, Jefferson, Franklin, and Hamilton had their flaws, but many of their actions could be interpreted differently, or at least more sympathetically, than McCullough does here. As it is, we know where McCullough's sympathies lie - with Adams, who emerges as a sort of virtuous American Cincinnatus, always longing to return home to Braintree, abhorrent of ambition and intrigue, but always forced by circumstance back into public life.
McCullough is not so biased, however, that he does not allow Adams' own flaws to stand for themselves, and he will almost reluctantly admit when Adams' judgment has failed him (such as during the passage of the ill-conceived Alien and Sedition Acts). What is truly wonderful about the book is that McCullough presents a picture of Adams the man, more than Adams the statesman, diplomat, or president. McCullough captures his deep love of his family, his deep love of home, which for Adams were indistinguishable from his patriotism - his acts on behalf of the country he loved were also acts of love for his family - and presents all the powerful forces that motivated this remarkable, passionate, fiery character. Politics are always personal, and the personal is always political, and nowhere was this more true, perhaps, than in the life of John Adams.
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So I’m sitting here bawling because John Adams just died. It doesn’t seem to matter that it happened 182 years ago.
The best biographers understand that a biography is not only a history of the title subject but a time machine to the time in which he or she lived. Having read David McCullough’s John Adams, I now feel like I was in the room when John (look at that, we’re on a first-name basis) rose in Congress to speak in support of the Declaration of Independence, like I was sitting at Abigail’s elbow when she wrote to him wherever he was, Philadelphia, Paris, Amsterdam, London. There are so many great word pictures, like the one of John helping to repel boarders when his ship came under attack crossing the Atlantic, told this time in the words of the ship’s captain.
And Abigail. Has there ever been such a woman? Has there ever been such a partnership? It’s almost enough to make me believe in marriage.
Of course it helps that John and Abigail both were such indefatigable correspondents (they weren’t happy that they were so many times separated but we sure lucked out) and such amazingly good writers. The quality of their writing, as well as that of their multitude of other correspondents is certain to leave you wondering where the hell that ability went.
McCullough’s organizational skills in plucking just the right phrase from just the right letter are astonishing, and his own prose doesn’t suffer by comparison, either. A glorious, you-are-there book.
The best biographers understand that a biography is not only a history of the title subject but a time machine to the time in which he or she lived. Having read David McCullough’s John Adams, I now feel like I was in the room when John (look at that, we’re on a first-name basis) rose in Congress to speak in support of the Declaration of Independence, like I was sitting at Abigail’s elbow when she wrote to him wherever he was, Philadelphia, Paris, Amsterdam, London. There are so many great word pictures, like the one of John helping to repel boarders when his ship came under attack crossing the Atlantic, told this time in the words of the ship’s captain.
And Abigail. Has there ever been such a woman? Has there ever been such a partnership? It’s almost enough to make me believe in marriage.
Of course it helps that John and Abigail both were such indefatigable correspondents (they weren’t happy that they were so many times separated but we sure lucked out) and such amazingly good writers. The quality of their writing, as well as that of their multitude of other correspondents is certain to leave you wondering where the hell that ability went.
McCullough’s organizational skills in plucking just the right phrase from just the right letter are astonishing, and his own prose doesn’t suffer by comparison, either. A glorious, you-are-there book.
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It is April 21, 2016 and I am experiencing this book for the second time. This time I am listening to the Audible format. I have recently listened to Alexander Hamilton and thought John Adams was not treated very well in that book and wondered how you would be treated in a book that was focused on him.
Adam spent about two years in France during the time of the Revolutionary war. He returned to Massachusetts and almost immediately began work on the Massachusetts constitution.
After a brief return to Massachusetts John Adams returns to Europe and eventually is joined by his wife and family. He spends time as a diplomat in Paris along with Franklin and Jefferson. As these books that are appearing to be about one individual there are significant diversions the cover other of their contemporaries. I find those diversions less satisfying since they are generally fairly cursory. In this case a good deal is made of Jefferson.
The meeting between John Adams as the first ambassador to England after the war with the king of England is indeed A historic event that I have never before focused on. I was moved hearing it.
So what does an ambassador to England do in 1784? One of the more interesting activities is negotiating the treaty with the country of Tripoly to protect American shipping from the Barbary pirates.
John Adams felt that he had accomplished very little in the diplomatic arena so as the time of the American constitutional convention came closer he switched gears and began to write about his philosophy of eight federal government and he requested that he be withdrawn from his London ambassadorship and return to the US. That's becomes a whole new era for this man.
On his way home across the ocean to Massachusetts John Adams thought he would just retire to Braintree his long time home. He had traveled 29,000 miles in service to his country. When he got back to Braintree he embarked on a farmers life. But there was talk of him becoming the vice president or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in the media. he had decided that he would accept the rule of vice president but nothing less. We all know he got that position.
It took the Senate a month to decide the title for George Washington. John Adams was only supposed to moderate the Senate debate but couldn't keep his mouth shut and contributed much to the extended debate. He wanted His Excellency or His Majesty but fortunately lost. But the suspicions that he was a monarchist at heart grew.h
Jeffersons reason versus Adams passion are subject to a good examination and discussion. This is also in the context of the French Revolution. Adams also opposed the gradual formation of two political parties.
Adams is portrayed as a president who began the Navy and was enthusiastic about it but who also opposed to standing army and dissolved it when it appeared that there would not be a war with France. His efforts to avoid a war with France are emphasized.
The story of his failure to be reelected and the involvement of Alexander Hamilton in that is fascinating. The mudslinging nature of the campaign shows that was a part of politics right from the start.
John and Abigail Adams were the first to live in Washington DC when they moved there from Philadelphia at the end of his term.
The story ends are in great debt to the fact that people including the founding fathers corresponded at great length and left their letters for posterity. The story of John Adams after leaving the presidency is filled by such correspondence including a significant exchange of letters over a number of years between Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
My experience of this book in the Audible for about four years after I first read it as vastly improved my appreciation for the work and I have increased my esteem from three stars to five stars. I am now fully involved in reading biographies of the founding fathers and I am enjoying the experience. One aspect of this particular biography is its focus on the participation of Abigail Adams on the career of her husband.
I highly recommend this biography in the Audible format.
Adam spent about two years in France during the time of the Revolutionary war. He returned to Massachusetts and almost immediately began work on the Massachusetts constitution.
After a brief return to Massachusetts John Adams returns to Europe and eventually is joined by his wife and family. He spends time as a diplomat in Paris along with Franklin and Jefferson. As these books that are appearing to be about one individual there are significant diversions the cover other of their contemporaries. I find those diversions less satisfying since they are generally fairly cursory. In this case a good deal is made of Jefferson.
The meeting between John Adams as the first ambassador to England after the war with the king of England is indeed A historic event that I have never before focused on. I was moved hearing it.
So what does an ambassador to England do in 1784? One of the more interesting activities is negotiating the treaty with the country of Tripoly to protect American shipping from the Barbary pirates.
John Adams felt that he had accomplished very little in the diplomatic arena so as the time of the American constitutional convention came closer he switched gears and began to write about his philosophy of eight federal government and he requested that he be withdrawn from his London ambassadorship and return to the US. That's becomes a whole new era for this man.
On his way home across the ocean to Massachusetts John Adams thought he would just retire to Braintree his long time home. He had traveled 29,000 miles in service to his country. When he got back to Braintree he embarked on a farmers life. But there was talk of him becoming the vice president or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in the media. he had decided that he would accept the rule of vice president but nothing less. We all know he got that position.
It took the Senate a month to decide the title for George Washington. John Adams was only supposed to moderate the Senate debate but couldn't keep his mouth shut and contributed much to the extended debate. He wanted His Excellency or His Majesty but fortunately lost. But the suspicions that he was a monarchist at heart grew.h
Jeffersons reason versus Adams passion are subject to a good examination and discussion. This is also in the context of the French Revolution. Adams also opposed the gradual formation of two political parties.
Adams is portrayed as a president who began the Navy and was enthusiastic about it but who also opposed to standing army and dissolved it when it appeared that there would not be a war with France. His efforts to avoid a war with France are emphasized.
The story of his failure to be reelected and the involvement of Alexander Hamilton in that is fascinating. The mudslinging nature of the campaign shows that was a part of politics right from the start.
John and Abigail Adams were the first to live in Washington DC when they moved there from Philadelphia at the end of his term.
The story ends are in great debt to the fact that people including the founding fathers corresponded at great length and left their letters for posterity. The story of John Adams after leaving the presidency is filled by such correspondence including a significant exchange of letters over a number of years between Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
My experience of this book in the Audible for about four years after I first read it as vastly improved my appreciation for the work and I have increased my esteem from three stars to five stars. I am now fully involved in reading biographies of the founding fathers and I am enjoying the experience. One aspect of this particular biography is its focus on the participation of Abigail Adams on the career of her husband.
I highly recommend this biography in the Audible format.
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David McCullough’s JOHN ADAMS paints a vivid portrait of Adams the patriot and Adams the man. Well-written and engaging, it relies in large part on Adams’s voluminous correspondence – with his wife Abigail and with friends and public figures. At times I thought the picture was a bit one-sided. Despite making some mistakes and being decidedly irascible, Adams is depicted as the true patriot, who doggedly pursued his beliefs against all odds to do what was best for the country. His selflessness, humility and New England thrift are presented as a marked contrast to many of his contemporaries, most notably Thomas Jefferson, who also takes a beating for being a political intriguer, even though he and Adams were reconciled near the end of their lives. I do not know the period well, however, so I am provisionally willing to accept McCullough’s portrayal. Perhaps biographies of Washington, Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton (who is portrayed in the book as a brilliant but insane scumbag) would tell a different story. I recommend this book highly to anyone interested in early American history or presidential biography.
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Wheeeeeere's Johnny?
n n
Thanks to David McCullough's 2002 Pulitzer Prize winning biography Adams will no longer be overlooked as a lesser president of the United States.
Although our currency fails to recognize him, that's never been much of a big deal to me, as my wallet generally fails to recognize any currency... they're so rarely acquainted:
John Adams - the president - was complex, ambitious, decisive. John Adams - the book - is complex, ambitious, definitive, and a remarkably readable masterpiece.
McCullough doesn't get bogged down in the tedium of mind-numbing details, and instead writes the book in more of a narrative form, starting with Adams family history, but focusing on his career in politics.
Before I go on, I have to say I was apprehensive about reading this after seeing the family tree at the beginning. Six John Adams? 4 Abigail Adams? 3 Williams? 3 Thomas's? 3 Susannas? Seriously, whoever wrote The Very First Big Book of Baby Names deserves a prize. Too bad it wasn't around in 1691... (parenthetical aside: I'm a little sensitive to this right now as I recently read One Hundred Years of Solitude, and everybody had the same name in that book.)
Adams' life was eventful. Oh, to be blessed and cursed to live in the times of such change.
There's so much that is telling about his life - of his intelligence, integrity, his ambition and conceit.
Although a steadfast patriot, he represented the Redcoats charged with murder in the Boston Massacre. (It is also telling that his friend - a Tory - was the prosecutor.) He took the case when no one else would because, "no one in a free country should be denied the right to counsel and a fair trial." (pg 66)
The love and devotion he and Abigail had for each other is nothing short of amazing. Truly, they were soul mates - if ever there was such a thing. They spent roughly ten years apart, due to his devotion to the nation. Yet their love never faltered. Their correspondence is remarkable in volume and substance - to think they were writing it all in a time before the internet, when the news they'd get could be months old - if it arrived at all. The transparency seen in their letters is a beautiful (albeit slightly voyeuristic) look into who they were and how they loved.
Abigail, in a letter to James Lovell (pg 262) writes of her husband, "Yet it wounds me, sir. When he is wounded, I bleed." They are a couple worth emulating. They endured. They endured.
There's a lot made of Adams' time as president, and before as a politician, his hand in The Declaration, his friendship with Jefferson. I won't go into all that, because it's found elsewhere. (I will say, I loved the part where Jefferson was listening to Congress dissect The Declaration of Independence... ouch...) Yes, there was a rift between them that was bridged. Yes, they both died on the same day, July 4th - 50 years after the signing. (Note just the same date, but the same DAY.) Yes, the country took it as a sign...
That is remarkable. What I find more remarkable is that Jefferson died $100,000 in debt after railing about debt. And Adams died with $100,000 to his name.
Jefferson's acceptance and affection for the French Revolution is appalling, and horrific - especially given the fact that he didn't free his own slaves.
Slavery, well... let's not even go there during this review...
The book was great. You should read it.
Before I leave this conclusionless review though, let me say one more thing that I liked - the parts at the beginning before John was in politics, while he was still a teacher. The things he said solidified my view that things were neither better, nor worse back then... people were people. Human nature does not change.
Of course, I can't find it now... but John said he thought students responded better to a little praise and encouragement, rather than a "thwacking." If I find that quote, I'm going to hang it on my wall.
n n
Thanks to David McCullough's 2002 Pulitzer Prize winning biography Adams will no longer be overlooked as a lesser president of the United States.
Although our currency fails to recognize him, that's never been much of a big deal to me, as my wallet generally fails to recognize any currency... they're so rarely acquainted:
n n n n
John Adams - the president - was complex, ambitious, decisive. John Adams - the book - is complex, ambitious, definitive, and a remarkably readable masterpiece.
McCullough doesn't get bogged down in the tedium of mind-numbing details, and instead writes the book in more of a narrative form, starting with Adams family history, but focusing on his career in politics.
Before I go on, I have to say I was apprehensive about reading this after seeing the family tree at the beginning. Six John Adams? 4 Abigail Adams? 3 Williams? 3 Thomas's? 3 Susannas? Seriously, whoever wrote The Very First Big Book of Baby Names deserves a prize. Too bad it wasn't around in 1691... (parenthetical aside: I'm a little sensitive to this right now as I recently read One Hundred Years of Solitude, and everybody had the same name in that book.)
Adams' life was eventful. Oh, to be blessed and cursed to live in the times of such change.
There's so much that is telling about his life - of his intelligence, integrity, his ambition and conceit.
Although a steadfast patriot, he represented the Redcoats charged with murder in the Boston Massacre. (It is also telling that his friend - a Tory - was the prosecutor.) He took the case when no one else would because, "no one in a free country should be denied the right to counsel and a fair trial." (pg 66)
The love and devotion he and Abigail had for each other is nothing short of amazing. Truly, they were soul mates - if ever there was such a thing. They spent roughly ten years apart, due to his devotion to the nation. Yet their love never faltered. Their correspondence is remarkable in volume and substance - to think they were writing it all in a time before the internet, when the news they'd get could be months old - if it arrived at all. The transparency seen in their letters is a beautiful (albeit slightly voyeuristic) look into who they were and how they loved.
Abigail, in a letter to James Lovell (pg 262) writes of her husband, "Yet it wounds me, sir. When he is wounded, I bleed." They are a couple worth emulating. They endured. They endured.
There's a lot made of Adams' time as president, and before as a politician, his hand in The Declaration, his friendship with Jefferson. I won't go into all that, because it's found elsewhere. (I will say, I loved the part where Jefferson was listening to Congress dissect The Declaration of Independence... ouch...) Yes, there was a rift between them that was bridged. Yes, they both died on the same day, July 4th - 50 years after the signing. (Note just the same date, but the same DAY.) Yes, the country took it as a sign...
That is remarkable. What I find more remarkable is that Jefferson died $100,000 in debt after railing about debt. And Adams died with $100,000 to his name.
Jefferson's acceptance and affection for the French Revolution is appalling, and horrific - especially given the fact that he didn't free his own slaves.
Slavery, well... let's not even go there during this review...
The book was great. You should read it.
Before I leave this conclusionless review though, let me say one more thing that I liked - the parts at the beginning before John was in politics, while he was still a teacher. The things he said solidified my view that things were neither better, nor worse back then... people were people. Human nature does not change.
Of course, I can't find it now... but John said he thought students responded better to a little praise and encouragement, rather than a "thwacking." If I find that quote, I'm going to hang it on my wall.
...
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I didn't know much about John Adams before reading this book, and now I admire him as a great man and revolutionary who helped shape the beginnings of this nation. While at times vain and stubborn, he was not lacking in conviction to what he thought was right, even if it made him unpopular. This biography is comprised of three main narratives: (1) the revolution and building of a new republic; (2) the love story between John and Abigail (possibly the best part); and (3) the friendship arc between him and Thomas Jefferson, which culminates in both men dying on the same day, July 4th, 50 years after Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence and Adams was its most ardent supporter in Congress. David McCullough did a masterful job with this.
These were some of my favorite quotes (there are a lot haha):
"Better that many guilty persons escape unpunished than one innocent person should be punished. The reason is because it's of more importance to community that innocence should be protected than it is that guilt should be punished." - John Adams
"The preservation of liberty depends on the intellectual and moral character of the people. As long as knowledge and virtue are diffused generally among the body of a nation, it is impossible they should be enslaved." - John Adams
“. . . Remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation.” - Abigail Adams (writing to her husband)
"Ambition is one of the more ungovernable passions of the human heart. The love of power is insatiable and uncontrollable. There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty." - John Adams
"Men ought to avow their opinions and defend them with boldness." - John Adams
"Laws for the liberal education of youth, especially for the lower classes of people, are so extremely wise and useful that to a humane and generous mind, no expense for this purpose would be thought extravagant." - John Adams
"I wish most sincerely there was not a slave in the province. It always seemed a most iniquitous scheme to me to fight ourselves for what we are daily robbing and plundering from those who have a good a right to freedom as we have. " - Abigail Adams
"We may please ourselves with the prospect of free and popular governments, but there is great danger that those governments will not make us happy. God grant they may, but I fear that in every assembly, members will attain an influence by noise, not sense; by meanness, not greatness; by ignorance, not learning; by contracted hearts, not large souls. There is one thing my dear sir that must be attempted and sacredly observed or we are all undone. There must be decency and respect." - John Adams
"When I consider the great events which are passed and those greater which are rapidly advancing, and that I may have been instrumental in touching some springs and turning some wheels which have had and will have such effects, I feel an awe upon my mind which is not easily described." - John Adams
"He had not wanted the responsibility of hitting the board of war and felt vastly unequal to the multitude of problems and decisions to be grappled with. But it was also clear that they were all unequal to the task. No one in Congress was qualified. 'We are all inexperienced in this business.'" - David McCullough (quoting John Adams)
“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study paintings, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.” - John Adams
"Let us have ambition enough to keep our simplicity, our frugality, and our integrity and transmit these virtues as the fairest of inheritance to our children." - John Adams
“We cannot ensure success, but we can deserve it.” - John Adams
"You will ever remember that all the end of study is to make you a good man and a useful citizen. This will ever be the sum total of the advice of your affectionate father." - John Adams (to his son John Quincy)
"Thanks to God that he gave me stubbornness when I know I am right!" - John Adams
"Merit, not titles, gave a man preeminence in our country." - Abigail Adams
“I hate to complain. . . No one is without difficulties, whether in high or low life, and every person knows best where their own shoe pinches.” - Abigail Adams
"A man must be sensible to the errors of the people and on his guard against them. And must run the risk of their displeasure sometimes or he will never do them any good in the long run." - John Adams
"Like Washington and many others, Adams had become increasingly distraught over the rise of political divisiveness: the forming of parties or factions. That political parties were an evil that could bring the ruination of republican government was doctrine he with others had long accepted and espoused: 'There is nothing I dread so much as a division of the republic into two main parties; each arranged under its leader and converting measures in opposition to each other. . . The turbulent maneuvers of factions could tie the hands and destroy the influence of every honest man with a desire to serve the public good. . . There was division of sentiments over everything. How few aim at the good of the whole without aiming too much at the prosperity of parts?'" - David McCullough (quoting John Adams)
"If the way to do good to my country were to render myself popular I could easily do it. But extravagant popularity is not the road to public advantage." - John Adams
"The boy is a free man as much as any of the young men, and merely because his face is black is he to be denied instruction? How is he to be qualified to procure a livelihood? Is this the Christian principle of doing unto others as we would have others do unto us? Tell them that I hope we shall all go to heaven together." - Abigail Adams
"I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings upon this house (referring to the white house) and all that shall hereafter inhabit. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof." - John Adams
"Were it not for John Adams making peace with France, there might never have been a Louisiana Purchase." - David McCullough
“Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives." - John Adams
“Public business, my son, must always be done by somebody. It will be done by somebody or other. If wise men decline it, others will not; if honest men refuse it, others will not.” - John Adams
"Absolute power in a majority is as drunk as it is in one." - John Adams
"If the empire of superstition and hypocrisy should be overthrown, happy indeed will it be for the world. But if all religion and all morality should be overthrown with it, what advantage will be gained? The doctrine of human equality is founded entirely in the Christian doctrine that we are all children of the same Father, all accountable to Him for our conduct to one another, all equally bound to respect each other's self-love." - John Adams
"Whenever complimented about John Quincy and his role in national life and the part he had played as father, Adams would say, with emphasis, 'My son had a mother!'" - David McCullough
"The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to know. Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. This is enough. Sow questions, and sow answers." - John Adams
"Griefs upon griefs. Disappointments upon disappointments. What then? This is a gay, merry world notwithstanding!" - John Adams
These were some of my favorite quotes (there are a lot haha):
"Better that many guilty persons escape unpunished than one innocent person should be punished. The reason is because it's of more importance to community that innocence should be protected than it is that guilt should be punished." - John Adams
"The preservation of liberty depends on the intellectual and moral character of the people. As long as knowledge and virtue are diffused generally among the body of a nation, it is impossible they should be enslaved." - John Adams
“. . . Remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation.” - Abigail Adams (writing to her husband)
"Ambition is one of the more ungovernable passions of the human heart. The love of power is insatiable and uncontrollable. There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty." - John Adams
"Men ought to avow their opinions and defend them with boldness." - John Adams
"Laws for the liberal education of youth, especially for the lower classes of people, are so extremely wise and useful that to a humane and generous mind, no expense for this purpose would be thought extravagant." - John Adams
"I wish most sincerely there was not a slave in the province. It always seemed a most iniquitous scheme to me to fight ourselves for what we are daily robbing and plundering from those who have a good a right to freedom as we have. " - Abigail Adams
"We may please ourselves with the prospect of free and popular governments, but there is great danger that those governments will not make us happy. God grant they may, but I fear that in every assembly, members will attain an influence by noise, not sense; by meanness, not greatness; by ignorance, not learning; by contracted hearts, not large souls. There is one thing my dear sir that must be attempted and sacredly observed or we are all undone. There must be decency and respect." - John Adams
"When I consider the great events which are passed and those greater which are rapidly advancing, and that I may have been instrumental in touching some springs and turning some wheels which have had and will have such effects, I feel an awe upon my mind which is not easily described." - John Adams
"He had not wanted the responsibility of hitting the board of war and felt vastly unequal to the multitude of problems and decisions to be grappled with. But it was also clear that they were all unequal to the task. No one in Congress was qualified. 'We are all inexperienced in this business.'" - David McCullough (quoting John Adams)
“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study paintings, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.” - John Adams
"Let us have ambition enough to keep our simplicity, our frugality, and our integrity and transmit these virtues as the fairest of inheritance to our children." - John Adams
“We cannot ensure success, but we can deserve it.” - John Adams
"You will ever remember that all the end of study is to make you a good man and a useful citizen. This will ever be the sum total of the advice of your affectionate father." - John Adams (to his son John Quincy)
"Thanks to God that he gave me stubbornness when I know I am right!" - John Adams
"Merit, not titles, gave a man preeminence in our country." - Abigail Adams
“I hate to complain. . . No one is without difficulties, whether in high or low life, and every person knows best where their own shoe pinches.” - Abigail Adams
"A man must be sensible to the errors of the people and on his guard against them. And must run the risk of their displeasure sometimes or he will never do them any good in the long run." - John Adams
"Like Washington and many others, Adams had become increasingly distraught over the rise of political divisiveness: the forming of parties or factions. That political parties were an evil that could bring the ruination of republican government was doctrine he with others had long accepted and espoused: 'There is nothing I dread so much as a division of the republic into two main parties; each arranged under its leader and converting measures in opposition to each other. . . The turbulent maneuvers of factions could tie the hands and destroy the influence of every honest man with a desire to serve the public good. . . There was division of sentiments over everything. How few aim at the good of the whole without aiming too much at the prosperity of parts?'" - David McCullough (quoting John Adams)
"If the way to do good to my country were to render myself popular I could easily do it. But extravagant popularity is not the road to public advantage." - John Adams
"The boy is a free man as much as any of the young men, and merely because his face is black is he to be denied instruction? How is he to be qualified to procure a livelihood? Is this the Christian principle of doing unto others as we would have others do unto us? Tell them that I hope we shall all go to heaven together." - Abigail Adams
"I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings upon this house (referring to the white house) and all that shall hereafter inhabit. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof." - John Adams
"Were it not for John Adams making peace with France, there might never have been a Louisiana Purchase." - David McCullough
“Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives." - John Adams
“Public business, my son, must always be done by somebody. It will be done by somebody or other. If wise men decline it, others will not; if honest men refuse it, others will not.” - John Adams
"Absolute power in a majority is as drunk as it is in one." - John Adams
"If the empire of superstition and hypocrisy should be overthrown, happy indeed will it be for the world. But if all religion and all morality should be overthrown with it, what advantage will be gained? The doctrine of human equality is founded entirely in the Christian doctrine that we are all children of the same Father, all accountable to Him for our conduct to one another, all equally bound to respect each other's self-love." - John Adams
"Whenever complimented about John Quincy and his role in national life and the part he had played as father, Adams would say, with emphasis, 'My son had a mother!'" - David McCullough
"The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to know. Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. This is enough. Sow questions, and sow answers." - John Adams
"Griefs upon griefs. Disappointments upon disappointments. What then? This is a gay, merry world notwithstanding!" - John Adams
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While McCullough is certainly a brilliant author and historian (he made the politics and engineering behind the Brooklyn Bridge entertaining in The Great Bridge), clearly the genius of this work is Adams himself, as well as Abigail, their friends, and family. Every page of this biography seemed to seethe with written correspondence that survives to this day, painting a portrait that no Peale or Stuart could possibly approach. I do not have many to compare it to yet, but I have been told that this is one of the greatest American biographies, and I am a believer.
[Update, after 24 more presidents] I still believe it is one of the best, and it is one of three that I recommend to someone only dabbling in this genre.
[Update, after 24 more presidents] I still believe it is one of the best, and it is one of three that I recommend to someone only dabbling in this genre.
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This was a workmanlike biography, which I devoured very quickly but also found to be fairly prosaic. There is a lot of "then this happened, then this happened". I think what got sort of lost with this approach was a truly clear sense of how Adams fit into the historical and political moment - for example, what the Continental Congress was or did remains murky, and McCullough seems to devote very few pages to Adams's candidacy in 1796 - all of a sudden he is the frontrunning candidate. Hundreds of pages instead are given to Adams largely inconsequential sojourns in Europe. All in all good, but didn't feel as analytically precise as it could have been.
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