Abigail Adams

We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.

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.

Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.

If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?

I begin to think, that a calm is not desirable in any situation in life. Man was made for action and for bustle too, I believe.

The habits of a vigorous mind are born in contending with difficulties.

Well, knowledge is a fine thing, and mother Eve thought so; but she smarted so severely for hers, that most of her daughters have been afraid of it since.

Wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues.

I've always felt that a person's intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting points of view he can entertain simultaneously on the same topic.

It is to me a most affecting thing to hear myself prayed for, in particular as I do every day in the week, and disposes me to bear with more composure, some disagreeable circumstances that attend my situation.

But let no person say what they would or would not do, since we are not judges for ourselves until circumstances call us to act.

If we mean to have Heroes, Statesmen and Philosophers, we should have learned women. The world perhaps would laugh at me, and accuse me of vanity, but you I know have a mind too enlarged and liberal to disregard the Sentiment. If much depends as is allowed upon the early Education of youth and the first principals which are instill'd take the deepest root, great benefit must arise from literary accomplishments in women.

To be good, and do good, is the whole duty of man comprised in a few words.

posterity who are to reap the blessings will scarcely be able to conceive the hardships and sufferings of their ancestors.