John Adams

Description:

Theme:

John Adams by David McCullough, a book about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas.

Summary:

Adams was a dedicated diarist and regularly corresponded with many important figures in early American history, including his wife and adviser Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson. A lawyer and political activist prior to the revolution, Adams was devoted to the right to counsel and presumption of innocence.

Famous Quotes:

I am a mortal and irreconcilable enemy to monarchy.

I must study politics and war that my sons may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.

Property is surely a right of mankind as real as liberty.

Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.

Every problem is an opportunity in disguise.

I am more disposed to praise a good disposition, than to censure a bad one.

I must appear to be severe and rigid, but I am very indulgent.

There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

Power always thinks it has a great soul.

Fear is the foundation of most governments.

You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket.

To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do.

I must govern the clock, not be governed by it.

Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.

Duty is ours; results are God’s.

Literary awards:

Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography (2002)
Ambassador Book Award for Biography (2002)
Audie Award for Nonfiction (2002)
Puddly Award for Nonfiction (2002)
American Revolution Round Table Award (2001)
Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award (2002)

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