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

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.

- Abigail Adams

A little of what you call frippery is very necessary towards looking like the rest of the world.

- Abigail Adams

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

- Abigail Adams

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

- Abigail Adams

Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could.

- 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

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

- Abigail Adams

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.'

- Abigail Adams

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.

- Abigail Adams

Arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken.

- 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

Great necessities call out great virtues.

- Abigail Adams

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

- Abigail Adams