Quote

Grief drives men into habits of serious reflection, sharpens the understanding, and softens the heart

John Adams

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

John Adams
Age: 90 †
Born: 1735
Born: October 19
Died: 1826
Died: July 4
2Nd U.S. President
Diplomat
Lawyer
Political Philosopher
Politician
Statesperson
Braintree
Massachusetts
President Adams
J. Adams
President John Adams
Serious
Grieving
Animal
Drives
Understanding
Habits
Heart
Sadness
Men
Reflection
Misery
Grief
Softens
Habit
Sharpens

More quotes by John Adams

Image
No good government but what is republican... the very definition of a republic is 'an empire of laws, and not of men.'
John Adams
Image
The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries.
John Adams
Image
Here is everything which can lay hold of the eye, ear and imagination - everything which can charm and bewitch the simple and ignorant. I wonder how Luther ever broke the spell.
John Adams
Image
The appearance of religion only on Sunday proves that it is only an appearance.
John Adams
Image
When I was young, and addicted to reading, I had heard about dancing on the points of metaphysical needles but, by mixing in the world, I found the points of political needles finer and sharper than the metaphysical ones.
John Adams
Image
Borrowed eloquence, if it contains as good stuff, is as good as own eloquence
John Adams
Image
I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.
John Adams
Image
The frightful engines of ecclesiastical councils, of diabolical malice, and Calvinistical good-nature never failed to terrify me exceedingly whenever I thought of preaching.
John Adams
Image
When you see a good move, sit on your hands and find a better one.
John Adams
Image
Set before us the conduct of our own British ancestors, who defended for us the inherent rights of mankind against foreign and domestic tyrants and usurpers, against arbitrary kings and cruel priests in short against the gates of earth and hell.
John Adams
Image
What other form of government, indeed, can so well deserve our esteem and love?
John Adams
Image
This is my religion ... joy and exaltation in my own existence ... so go ahead and snarl ... bite ... howl, you Calvinistic divines and all you who say I am no Christian. I say you are not Christian.
John Adams
Image
Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.
John Adams
Image
I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize man than any other nation.
John Adams
Image
My God! This is a revolution! We have to offend someone!
John Adams
Image
Honor is truly sacred, but holds a lower rank in the scale of moral excellence than virtue. Indeed the former is part of the latter, and consequently has not equal pretensions to support a frame of government productive of human happiness.
John Adams
Image
I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.
John Adams
Image
Oh! the wisdom, the foresight and the hindsight and the rightsight and the leftsight, the northsight and the southsight, and the eastsight and the westsight that appeared in that august assembly.
John Adams
Image
We electors have an important constitutional power placed in our hands we have a check upon two branches of the legislature.
John Adams
Image
My country has contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.
John Adams