“ From her character in the HBO miniseries: "The art of politics is the art of applying the seat of the britches to the seat of the chair. Abigail Adams
“ Well, knowledge is a fine thing, and mother Eve thought so but she smarted so severely for hers, that most of her daughters have been afraid of it since. Abigail Adams
“ ...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.… Abigail Adams
“ I hate to complain...No one is without difficulties, whether in high or low life, and every person knows best where their own shoe pinches. Abigail Adams
“ These are the 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. The habits of a vigorous mind are f… Abigail Adams
“ Arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken. Abigail Adams
“ 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
“ 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. Abigail Adams
“ Wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues. Abigail Adams
“ Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence. Abigail Adams
“ 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. Abigail Adams
“ Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could. Abigail Adams
