Abigail Adams, a woman of remarkable intellect and spirit, stands as a pivotal figure in American history. More than just the wife of a president and mother of another, she was a keen observer of her time, a passionate advocate for women's rights, and a trusted advisor to her husband, John Adams. Her letters, filled with wit, wisdom, and insightful commentary on politics and society, offer a unique window into the birth of a nation. This collection of over 50 of her most famous quotes reveals the depth of her character, her unwavering commitment to her principles, and her enduring relevance to our world today. From matters of state to the intimacies of family life, Abigail's words continue to resonate, offering guidance, inspiration, and a powerful reminder of the importance of voice and conviction.
"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
"Remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors" — Abigail Adams
"Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could" — Abigail Adams
"I will never consent to have our sex considered in an inferior point of light" — Abigail Adams
"Let each planet shine in their own orbit. God and nature designed it so—if man is Lord, woman is Lordess" — Abigail Adams
"The only way for a woman to become truly independent is through education" — Abigail Adams
"I love politics and believe in the importance of women having a voice in shaping the nation" — Abigail Adams
Education and Knowledge
"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence" — Abigail Adams
"If we mean to have heroes, statesmen, and philosophers, we should have learned women" — Abigail Adams
"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" — Abigail Adams
"Wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure" — Abigail Adams
"I’ve always believed in the power of education to change lives and shape society" — Abigail Adams
"Ignorance and a narrow education lay the foundation of vice" — Abigail Adams
"The mind is capable of great improvement when properly cultivated" — Abigail Adams
Resilience and Strength
"Great necessities call out great virtues" — Abigail Adams
"The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties" — Abigail Adams
"Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance" — Abigail Adams
"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" — Abigail Adams
"Posterity who are to reap the blessings will scarcely be able to conceive the hardships and sufferings of their ancestors" — 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
Power and Governance
"I am more and more convinced that man is a dangerous creature and that power, whether vested in many or a few, is ever grasping, and like the grave, cries, ‘Give, give’" — Abigail Adams
"Arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken" — Ahttps://www.actionsquotes.com/authors/abigail-adams-g7rjvd7rxz
"A people may let a king fall, yet still remain a people, but if a king let his people slip from him, he is no longer a king" — Abigail Adams
"Merit, not title, gave a man preeminence in our country" — Abigail Adams
"How difficult the task to quench the fire and the pride of private ambition, and to sacrifice ourselves and all our hopes and expectations to the public weal!" — Abigail Adams
"We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them" — Abigail Adams
"Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak" — Abigail Adams
Patriotism and Independence
"I long to hear that you have declared an independency" — Abigail Adams
"These are times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed" — Abigail Adams
"I wish most sincerely there was not a slave in this province. It always appeared a most iniquitous scheme to me" — Abigail Adams
"The spirit of liberty is not extinguished; it burns with a steady flame" — Abigail Adams
"A patriot without religion in my estimation is as great a paradox as an honest man without the fear of God" — Abigail Adams
"Our country is in a state of alarm, but I trust that heaven will avert the evils which threaten us" — Abigail Adams
Life and Purpose
"My bursting heart must find vent at my pen" — Abigail Adams
"If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?" — Abigail Adams
"To be good, and do good, is the whole duty of man comprised in a few words" — Abigail Adams
"It’s never too late to get back on your feet though we won’t live forever make sure you accomplish what you were put here for" — Abigail Adams
"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" — Abigail Adams
Human Nature and Relationships
"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" — Abigail Adams
"The passion between the sexes is necessary and will remain nearly in its present state" — Abigail Adams
"A little of what you call frippery is very necessary towards looking like the rest of the world" — Abigail Adams
"Men of sense in all ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your sex" — Abigail Adams
"There is a natural connection between virtue and happiness" — Abigail Adams
"The heart is often a better guide than the head" — Abigail Adams
Faith and Morality
"We are not judges of each other’s hearts; that belongs to a higher tribunal" — Abigail Adams
"Religion is the only solid basis of good morals" — Abigail Adams
"The Almighty has hung out a variety of blessings before us, and we must stretch forth our hands to receive them" — Abigail Adams
"Heaven has given me many blessings, and I hope I shall never forfeit them by ingratitude" — Abigail Adams
No one is without difficulties, whether in high or low life, and every person knows best where their own shoe pinches — Abigail Adams
