“These are times in which a genius would wish to live.”

— Abigail Adams, Letter to John Quincy Adams, 19 January 1780

About Abigail Adams

1744 – 1818

American First Lady and prolific letter writer, wife of John Adams.

“How few have souls capable of so noble an undertaking!”

“I wish most sincerely there was not a slave in this province.”

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

“Myths are made for the imagination to breathe life into them.”

“Tell me not, in mournful numbers, life is but an empty dream!”

“Dreams are true while they last, and do we not live in dreams?”

“Imagine what life would be like without imagination!”

“I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom.”

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”