Admire and adore the Author of the telescopic universe, love and esteem the work, do all in your power to lessen ill, and increase good, but never assume to comprehend.
John AdamsRead
As much as I converse with sages and heroes, they have very little of my love and admiration. I long for rural and domestic scene, for the warbling of birds and the prattling of my children.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects a preference for simplicity and domestic happiness over the admiration of great figures.
In this quote, John Adams expresses a deep yearning for the tranquility and joys found in nature and family life. While he appreciates the wisdom of sages and the courage of heroes, he finds that his true love and admiration are reserved for the simple pleasures of rural living and the companionship of his children, highlighting the importance of personal and familial connections over societal accolades.
Themes
NatureFamilyHappinessSimplicityLove
In practice
Example use cases
Sharing this quote during a family gathering to highlight the importance of spending time with loved ones.
More from John Adams
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Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
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The furnace of affliction produces refinement, in states as well as individuals.
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