Courtesy: wikipedia
Abigail Adams, the wife of the second President of the United States of America, was born on November 11, 1744 in the North Parish Congregational Church in Weymouth, Massachusetts. She was the second First Lady of United States and first Second Lady of United Sates. She was homeschooled.
She is widely known for significant letters, which contains several intellectual discussions on politics and government, written to her husband who many a times listened to her advices. She shared very frank relationship with her husband. They were mentors, counselors and advisors of each other.
Her letters are also rich sources of political commentary and provide important information of Revolutionary War. Her famous lines were “…remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. 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” that she wrote to John Adams and the Continental Congress in a letter in 1776. From 1783 to 1788, she assisted her husband on diplomatic mission to England and France.
She campaigned for more opportunities of women, broadening the education opportunity for women and women’s property right after marriage. She always believed women have more responsibility besides being a wife. She was against slavery and the incident that happened in Philadelphia 1791 supports it. A black youth came to her in hope to be taught writing by her and she generously enrolled him in a local evening school.
Her religious belief was also moderate which is clear from her letter to her daughter-in-law Louisa Adams in 1818 “When will Mankind be convinced that true Religion is from the Heart, between Man and his creator, and not the imposition of Man or creeds and tests?”
She died in October 28, 1818 after suffering from typhoid fever for several weeks. ‘She is the woman of passion and principals’ Laura Linney, a prominent American actress of films, theatre and Television.
Quotes:
“Wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues.”
“I begin to think, that calm is not desirable in any situation in life … Man was made for action and for bustle too, I believe.”
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.’
Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could.
Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and diligence.
“We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.”
“I’ve always felt that a person’s intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting points of view he can entertain simultaneously on the same topic.”
“If we mean to have heroes, statesmen and philosophers, we should have learned women.”
