1Abigail Smith to John Adams, 12 April 1764 (Adams Papers)
...me, (were it so, I should look forward with a heavey Heart,) but it is far otherways, for I had rather stand fair there, and be thought well of by Lysander than by the greater part of the World besides. I would fain hope that those faults which you discover, proceed more, from a wrong Head, than a bad Heart. E’er long May I be connected with a Friend from whose Example I may form...
2Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 6 October 1766 (Adams Papers)
it is for their interest, when any thing is to be got by it, but touch that tender part, their Interest, and you will immediately find the reverse, the greater half the World are mere Janases.
3Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 27 February 1774 (Adams Papers)
childishly blubering after new Worlds. This passion of Ambition when it centers in an honest mind possess’d of great Abilities may and often has done imminent Service to the World. There are but few minds if any wholy destitute of it and tho in itself it is Laudible yet there is nothing in Nature so amiable but the passions and intrest of Men will pervert to very base purposes....
4Abigail Adams to Edward Dilly, 22 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
...the falce glare and detect the many falshoods promulgated by a pensiond ministerial writer under the signature of Massachusettensis. There are tis said many errors of the press as well as other inaccuraces, but there are known to all the world innumerable Truths.
5Abigail Adams to John Adams, 17 September 1775 (Adams Papers)
...so transotory are all the enjoyments of Life that were it not for the tender connections which bind us here, would it not be folly to wish for a continuance here? I think I shall never be wedded to the World, and were I to loose about a Dozen of my dearest Connections I should have no further realish for Life.
6Abigail Adams to John Adams, 9 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
...soul, nor could you force a smile from her till she dyed. The voilence of her disease soon weakened her so that she was unable to converse, but whenever she could speak, she testified her willingness to leave the world and an intire resignation to the Divine Will. She retaind her senses to the last moment of her Existance, and departed the World with an easy tranquility, trusting in the...
7Abigail Adams to John Adams, 16 March 1776 (Adams Papers)
...Liberty to enter Boston, those who have had the small pox. The Enemy have not yet come under sail. I cannot help suspecting some design which we do not yet comprehend; to what quarter of the World they are bound is wholy unknown, but tis generally Thought to New york. Many people are elated with their quitting Boston. I confess I do not feel so, tis only lifting the burden from one...
8Abigail Adams to John Adams, 21 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
So struck the finer springs that move the world
9Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 27 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
...possesses above the rest of her Sex, by adorning with her pen even trivial occurances, as well as dignifying the most important. Cannot you communicate some of those Graces to your Friend and suffer her to pass them upon the World for her own that she may feel a little more upon an Eaquality with you?—Tis true I often receive large packages from P
10Abigail Adams to John Adams, 7 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
...may let a king fall, yet still remain a people, but if a king let his people slip from him, he is no longer a king. And as this is most certainly our case, why not proclaim to the World in decisive terms your own importance?