Home / Quotes / Quote by Gordon S. Wood

Quote by Gordon S. Wood

“[John] Adams never had an optimistic view of human nature, and his experience in the Congress and abroad only deepened his suspicion that his fellow Americans might not have the character to sustain a republican government.”

Quote by Gordon S. Wood

Author

Gordon S. Wood is an American historian renowned for his extensive research on the American Revolution. His book 'The Creation of the American Republic' won the Pulitzer Prize for History. more

You May Also Like

“As early as 1776, [John Adams] expressed his doubts about America's capacity for virtue. "I have seen all along my Life, Such Selfishness, and Littleness even in New England, that I sometimes tremble to think that, altho We are engaged in the best Cause that ever employed the Human Heart, yet the Prospect of success is doubtfull not for Want of Power or of Wisdom, but of Virtue."”

Thinking Want Humans Heart Sometimes America Causes Virtue Doubt Capacity England Selfishness Engaged Human Heart Employed New England

Author:Gordon S. Wood

“By the time [John Adams] came to write his Defence of the Constitutions of the United States in 1787 he had as dark a view of the American character as that of any critic in our history.”

Writing States Character Dark United Views United States Constitution Critics Defence Constitution Of The United States American Character

Author:Gordon S. Wood

“I think [John Adams] developed a much deeper suspicion of France and the other European powers than he had earlier. He lost much if not all of the utopian thinking about international politics and diplomacy expressed in his Model Treaty of 1776 and became much more cynical about the world.”

Ifs Thinking World Lost Models International Deeper France Cynical Suspicion Diplomacy Treaties Utopian

Author:Gordon S. Wood

“[John] Adams's perception of Europe, and especially France, was clearly different than [Tomas] Jefferson's. For Jefferson, the luxury and sophistication of Europe only made American simplicity and virtue appear dearer. For Adams, by contrast, Europe represented what America was fast becoming - a society consumed by luxury and vice and fundamentally riven by a struggle between rich and poor, gentlemen and commoners.”

“[John Adams] experience with the French philosophers only convinced him further of the need for a bicameral legislature representing the two principal social orders and, equally important, an independent executive.”

Needs Two Important Order Social Independent Philosopher Convinced Executives Principal Legislature Representing Social Order French Philosopher

Author:Gordon S. Wood

“Perhaps more significant than his experience in Europe, though, was [John] Adams's experience in his own country, and his extensive reading on the history of the English constitution. In 1779, he had an opportunity to try out his ideas by framing the Massachusetts constitution.”

Trying Ideas Country Reading Opportunity Europe Constitution Significant Massachusetts Framing Extensive Reading

Author:Gordon S. Wood

“The Massachusetts constitution was written much later than the other revolutionary state constitutions, and thus it avoids some of the earlier mistakes. The executive is stronger, with a limited veto; the senate is more formidable; and the judiciary is independent.”

States Mistake Written Constitution Stronger Independent Revolutionary Executives Senate Formidable Judiciary Massachusetts Veto

Author:Gordon S. Wood

“[The Massachusetts constitution] resembles the federal Constitution of 1787 more closely than any of the other revolutionary state constitutions. It was also drawn up by a special convention, and it provided for popular ratification - practices that were followed by the drafters of the federal Constitution of 1787 and subsequent state constitution-makers.”

States Practice Special Constitution Revolutionary Makers Conventions Massachusetts

Author:Gordon S. Wood

“[John] Adams's letters reveal his persistence and determination to win over the Dutch against all odds and to convince them and the other peoples of Europe of the potential greatness of the United States and of the importance of the Revolution to the world.”

World States Winning United United States Greatness Revolution Europe Determination Letters Importance Persistence Convince Odds Dutch Against All Odds

Author:Gordon S. Wood

“Americans, [John Adams] wrote in 1780, believed that their "revolution is as much for the benefit of the generality of Mankind in Europe, as for their own."”

Mankind Revolution Benefits Europe Generalities

Author:Gordon S. Wood