“[John] Adams never hid his jealousy and resentment of the other Founders, especially Benjamin Franklin.” Quote by Gordon S. Wood
“[John] Adams's letters to [his wife] Abigail are wonderful. In his letters, he is loving, humorous, preachy, learned, and saucy. He speaks to her with almost complete abandon, revealing all of his sensuous and vulnerable nature.” SpeakWifeWonderfulHumorousLettersVulnerableAbandonRevealingSensuousAbigail Author:Gordon S. Wood
“[John Adams] diary, of course, is even more revealing of his feelings. Both his letters to [his wife] Abigail and his diary tell us what he really thinks about people and events.” PeopleThinkingFeelingsCoursesWifeEventsLettersRevealingDiariesAbigail Author:Gordon S. Wood
“[John Adams] letters courting Abigail Smith are especially priceless. In one of 1764 he addresses her as "Miss Adorable" and says that "By the same Token that the Bearer hereof satt up with you last night I hereby order you to give him, as many Kisses, and as many Hours of your Company after 9 O'Clock as he shall please to Demand and charge them to my Account."” GivingLastsNightOrderHoursCompanyMissingPleaseDemandKissingLettersAccountsClockAddressesLast NightPricelessAdorableTokensAbigail Author:Gordon S. Wood
“I think [John's Adams] descriptions of the personalities of [Benjamin] Franklin and [Tomas] Jefferson and others were pretty accurate. It is only when he felt he was wronged by them that he lets loose his anger and resentment.” ThinkingFeltPersonalityDescriptionResentmentAccurateFranklinWrongedAnger And ResentmentTomas Jefferson Author:Gordon S. Wood
“[John Adams] is impressed with [Tomas] Jefferson's learning, but noted his silence during the debates in the Congress: "I never heard him utter three Sentences together."” TogetherThreeSilenceHeardCongressSentencesDebateImpressedTomas Jefferson Author:Gordon S. Wood
“[John's Adams] description of [Benjamin] Franklin in a letter to [his wife] Abigail in 1775 is laudatory. Only when he experiences all the adulation paid to Franklin in Paris does he begin to change his tune.” DoeWifeLettersPaidParisTunesDescriptionFranklinAdulationAbigail Author:Gordon S. Wood
“[Benjamin] Franklin may be a great philosopher, [John Adams] told his diary in 1779, but "as a Legislator in America he has done very little."” MayLittlesDoneAmericaPhilosopherDiariesFranklinLegislatorsGreat Philosophers Author:Gordon S. Wood
“By 1782 [John Adams] had come to feel for [Benjamin] Franklin "no other sentiments than Contempt or Abhorrence."” FeelsSentimentsContemptFranklinAbhorrence Author:Gordon S. Wood
“I think [John] Adams was correct when he said that his May resolutions were "an Epocha, a decisive Event," and tantamount to a declaration of independence.” ThinkingMaySaidEventsIndependenceResolutionDeclarationDeclaration Of Independence Author:Gordon S. Wood
“[John Adams] always felt that his contribution to bringing about independence went unappreciated, especially after the 1790s when [Tomas] Jefferson began to be lauded as the "author" of the Declaration of Independence.” FeltIndependenceContributionDeclarationDeclaration Of IndependenceTomas Jefferson Author:Gordon S. Wood