“I hope our people will never again suffer the flag of a tyrant to fly.” John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 June 1776

“In private Life, no one has a Right to censure me for following my own Inclinations, in Retirement, Simplicity, and Frugality: in public Life, every Man has a Right to remark as he pleases, at least he thinks so.” John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776

“The Faculty of Writing is attainable, by Art, Practice, and Habit only. The sooner, therefore the Practice begins, the more likely it will be to succeed. Have no Mercy upon an affected Phrase, any more than an affected Air, Gate, Dress, or Manners.” John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 July 1776