Abigail Adams Quotes, born November 11, 1744, in Weymouth, Massachusetts, and passing on October 28, 1818, was the wife of John Adams, the second U.S. President, and mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth. As the first Second Lady and second First Lady, she was a key figure during the American Revolution, managing the family farm and advising her husband through over 1,000 letters, now preserved at the Massachusetts Historical Society. A self-educated reader of Shakespeare and Milton, she advocated for women’s rights and education, famously urging John to “remember the ladies” in a 1776 letter.
These 15 quotes—sourced from her letters, writings, and posts on X—reflect her insights on women’s empowerment, education, resilience, and patriotism, capturing her sharp intellect and revolutionary fervor.
15 Abigail Adams Quotes
- “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.” (The Letters of John and Abigail Adams, 1776)
- “Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence.” (The Quotable Abigail Adams, 2009)
- “Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.” (The Book of Abigail and John, 1975)
- “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.” (The Letters of John and Abigail Adams, 1776)
- “If we mean to have Heroes, Statesmen and Philosophers, we should have learned women.” (The Letters of John and Abigail Adams, 1776)
- “My bursting heart must find vent at my pen.” (The Book of Abigail and John, 1975)
- “Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could.” (My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams, 2007)
- “We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.” (The Book of Abigail and John, 1975)
- “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.” (The Letters of John and Abigail Adams, 1776)
- “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.’” (Letters of Mrs. Adams, 1840)
- “Great necessities call out great virtues.” (The Book of Abigail and John, 1975)
- “Arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken.” (The Book of Abigail and John, 1975)
- “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 Book of Abigail and John, 1975)
- “To be good, and do good, is the whole duty of man comprised in a few words.” (Letters of Mrs. Adams, 1840)
- “A people fired with love of their country and of liberty, a zeal for the public good, and a noble emulation of glory, will not be disheartened or dispirited by a succession of unfortunate events.” (The Book of Abigail and John, 1975)
Abigail Adams’s quotes are a fiery blend of wit, conviction, and a call for justice, inspiring women, scholars, and patriots to demand equality, seek knowledge, and rise above challenges. Her words echo through history, urging us to act with courage and purpose. Which one sparks your revolutionary spirit? Drop it in the comments and keep Abigail’s legacy of empowerment alive!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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