Abigail Adams

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence.

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.

Wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues.

If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?

If we mean to have heroes, statesmen and philosophers, we should have learned women.

I begin to think, that a calm is not desirable in any situation in life. Man was made for action and for bustle too, I believe.

We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.

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.