"When I went home to my family in May, 1770, from the town meeting in Boston, which was the first I had ever attended, and where I had been chosen in my absence, without any solicitation, one of their representatives, I said to my wife, 'I have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have consented to my own ruin, to your ruin, and to the ruin of our children. I give you this warning, that you may prepare your mind for your fate.' She burst into tears, but instantly cried out in a transport of magnanimity, 'Well, I am willing in this cause to run all risks with you, and be ruined with you, if you are ruined.' These were times, my friend, in Boston, which tried women's souls as well as men's."
by:
John Adams
(1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd US President
Source:
Letter to Benjamin Rush, 4 April 1809
Rating:
Categories:
 
Bookmark and Share  
Reader comments about this quote:
 -- tim, gotebo OK      
Great picture of original integrity, bravery, and understandings of liberty. And, here we are again over 200 years later with more unsolvable grievances against foreign despots.
 -- Mike, Norwalk     
  •  
    Oh! that man might care for his community in this way today, what a different environment we might live in.
     -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas     
  •  
    If he were in the House of Representatives today, he would be a giant amongst pygmies.
     -- jim k, austin     
  •  
    I long for the day when politicians will once again not find a Congressional office so comfortable and maybe even fear it again, rather than treat it like lottery winnings.
     -- Ken, Allyn, WA     
  •  
    John Adams was chosen by the people -- he did not campaign for power -- he in fact dreaded the additional responsibility. If only we could pick our representatives this way now, we might break free of the monopoly of puppets currently in office. Whoever would spend 2 years campaigning for government office should not be trusted with the job.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
  •  
     
    Rate this quote!
    How many stars?
    0
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5

     
    What do YOU think?
    Your name:
    Your town:
        CLICK JUST ONCE!

    More Quotations
    Get a Quote-A-Day! Free!
    Liberty Quotes sent to your mail box.
    RSS Subscribe
    Quotes & Quotations - Send This Quote to a Friend

    © 1998-2024 Liberty-Tree.ca