25 Inspirational Abigail Adams Quotes From The Second First Lady

Georgia Stone
Dec 12, 2023 By Georgia Stone
Originally Published on Jan 26, 2021
Famous quotes by Abigail Adams are about women's education, slavery and more.
?
Age: 0-99
Read time: 6.3 Min

Abigail Adams was the second First Lady of the United States.

Her husband was John Adams, the second President of the United States. She also later became the mother of the sixth president of the United States, John Quincy Adams.

Abigail Adams had many important principles that she stood by in her life, including her promotion of women's education and opposition to slavery.

As such, she has plenty of famous quotes on these subjects and others, that are still worth reading today. One such famous quote is her iconic, “remember the ladies” quote.

This line was said to encourage her husband, John Adams, who, as one of the Founding Fathers, fought for America’s independence from Great Britain, to be generous to women in his demands.

Many historians believed that Abigail Adams's letter to John Adams served as an inspiration to John, who was out fighting for America. She wanted the new members of the United States to be more generous and favorable to the women after they were ignored by their ancestors for years.

This line therefore emphasises her plight for the rights of women to be improved in the new America, as well as those of men.

If you are looking for more famous quotes from the second ever First Lady of the United States, you are in the right place.

Some of the famous Abigail Adams quotes that you will find on this list include, "Great necessities call out great virtues," and, "learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence".

We even have included her famous last words, which were, "Do not grieve, my friend, my dearest friend.

I am ready to go. And John, it will not be long."

So, keep on reading for some interesting Abigail Adams quotes, or you can also check out these Woodrow Wilson quotes and patriotic quotes for more great quotes.

The Best Abigail Adams Quotes

John and Abigail Adams both stood up for causes they believed in.

Being the First Lady of the United States, gave Abigail Adams a sense of power and, most importantly, voice. Through this voice, she advocated for women's rights were achieved and the abolition of slavery.

The First Lady of the United States has ever been vocal about her how women have been ignored for.

Many quotes from Abigail Adams are found in her letters, Abigail Adams wrote often to John Adams, but also to John Quincy Adams, and these Abigail Adams letters provide an insight into her mind for us today.

She talked about love, war, and how the nation should be treated. So, if you need some inspiration and are looking for Abigail Adams quotes on love and Abigail Adams quotes about women's rights, then keep on reading these iconic Abigail Adams quotes.

1." If we mean to have Heroes, Statesmen, and Philosophers, we should have Learned Women."

-Abigail Adams.

2. "A people 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."

― Abigail Adams.

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

― Abigail Adams.

4. "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.

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

― Abigail Adams.

6. "I wish most sincerely there was not a slave in this province. It always appeared a most iniquitous scheme to me - to fight ourselves for what we are daily robbing and plundering from those who have as good a right to freedom as we have."

― Abigail Adams.

7. “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.

8. “My bursting heart must find vent at my pen.”

― Abigail Adams.

9. “Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.”

― Abigail Adams.

10. “We have too many high sounding words and too few actions that correspond with them.”

― Abigail Adams.

11. “It's never too late to get back on your feet though we won't live forever, make sure you accomplish what you were put here for”

― Abigail Adams.

12. "Do not grieve, my friend, my dearest friend. I am ready to go. And John, it will not be long."

― Abigail Adams.

Inspirational Abigail Adams Quotes

Abigail Adams was married to John Adams, making her the First Lady.

Abigail Adams' women's rights quotes have served as an inspiration for generations. She has taught us a way in which a nation should treat its women.

Her position as First Lady of the United States, meant that her advocating for women's equal education and women's property rights was hugely impactful. She wanted women to become an important part of the decision-making process of both the home and the country.

She also believed that in a marriage, one spouse (the husband) should not have unlimited power. Many looked down upon her for these views, but with the support of her husband John Adams, she became a champion of women's rights.

If you need the inspiration to remind others how they should treat women, then read these inspirational Abigail Adams quotes. Which is your favorite Abigail Adams quote?

13. "Remember all men would be tyrants if they could."

Abigail Adams.

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

― Abigail Adams.

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

― Abigail Adams.

16. "I regret the trifling narrow contracted education of the females of my own country."

― Abigail Adams.

17. "Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of husbands."

― Abigail Adams.

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

― Abigail Adams.

19. "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.

20. "The only chance for much intellectual improvement in the female sex was to be found in the families of the educated class and in occasional intercourse with the learned."

― Abigail Adams.

21. "To be good, and do good, is the whole duty of man comprised in a few words."

― Abigail Adams.

22. "I begin to think, that calm is not desirable in any situation in life. The man was made for action and for bustle too, I believe."

― Abigail Adams.

23. "No one is without difficulties, whether in high or low life, and every person knows best where their own shoe pinches."

― Abigail Adams.

24. “Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.”

― Abigail Adams.

25. "I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors."

- Abigail Adams, letter to John Adams, 31 March 1776.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 25 inspirational Abigail Adams quotes from the second First Lady,then why not take a look at these [James Monroe quotes], or these quotes about America for more?

We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

See All

Written by Georgia Stone

Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art

Georgia Stone picture

Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art

Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.

Read full bio >