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.... Great necessities call out great virtues.

Abigail Adams

Letter to John Adams, 1780

Read this letter at the National Archives website

More information about this quote

Topic

Interesting times Benefits of adversity

Author

Abigail Adams

Source

Letter to John Adams, 1780 Letters of Abigail Adams

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1780 1780s 18th century

Occupation

First Lady

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Adams, Abigail. Letter to John Quincy Adams. 12 Jan. 1780.

Current Citation

Adams, Abigail. Quoted in John Adams, written by David McCullough. Simon and Schuster, 2001.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Abigail Adams about interesting times: “These are times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not…”
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A quote by Abigail Adams about interesting times: “These are times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not…”
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A quote by Abigail Adams about interesting times: “These are times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 1780s

Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.

James Madison

Federalist 51

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Read Federalist No. 51 at the Library of Congress website
More information about this quote
Topic
Checks and balances Separation of powers Political theory Politics

Author

James Madison
Source
Federalist 51 The Federalist Papers
Medium
Essay
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1788 1780s 18th century
Era
American Revolutionary Period
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 51, The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments." New York Packet, 8 Feb. 1788.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 51: How to maintain: make the parts check each other. Also, a federal system divides power further.--Madison (or Hamilton)." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Another quote from 1780

The real or supposed necessity of treating the Negroes with rigor gradually brings a numbness upon the heart and renders most of those who are engaged in it too indifferent to the sufferings of their fellow creatures.

John Newton

Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade

More information about this quote
Topic
Consequences of slavery

Author

John Newton
Source
Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade
Language
English
Time
1780 1780s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Newton, John. "Thoughts upon the African Slave Trade." Letters and Sermons. c. 1780.