--- title: "10 Knows Quotes By Henry Adams" description: "10 Knows quotes by Henry Adams. Plus more from Henry Adams and more Knows sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/henry-adams-1542_care_the-historian-must-not-try-to-know-what_2469948.png" --- > [The historian must not try to know what is truth, if he values his honesty; for if he cares for his truths,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-historian-must-not-try-to-know-what-is-truth-if-he-values-his/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/henry-adams-1542_care_the-historian-must-not-try-to-know-what_2469948.png) > [The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it reacts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-know-what-he-is-talking-about/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/henry-adams-1542_disillusionment_the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-kn_23920.png) > [The less a tourist knows, the fewer mistakes he need make, for he will not expect himself to explain ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-less-a-tourist-knows-the-fewer-mistakes-he-need-make-for-he-will/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/henry-adams-1542_failure_the-less-a-tourist-knows-the-fewer-mista_533758.png) > [If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows he may go to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength-the-devil-knows-he-may-go-to/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/henry-adams-1542_devil_if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength_83152.png) > [The whole fabric of society will go to wrack if we really lay hands of reform on our rotten institutions. From top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-whole-fabric-of-society-will-go-to-wrack-if-we-really-lay-hands/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/henry-adams-1542_bottom_the-whole-fabric-of-society-will-go-to-w_2652350.png) > [Education should try to lessen the obstacles, diminish the friction, invigorate the energy, and should train minds to react, not at haphazard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/education-should-try-to-lessen-the-obstacles-diminish-the-friction/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de4/henry-adams-1542_choices_education-should-try-to-lessen-the-obsta_1623321.jpg) > [My belief is that science is to wreck us, and that we are like monkeys monkeying with a loaded shell; we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/my-belief-is-that-science-is-to-wreck-us-and-that-we-are-like-monkeys/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/henry-adams-1542_belief_my-belief-is-that-science-is-to-wreck-us_521499.jpg) > [For after all man knows mighty little, and may some day learn enough of his own ignorance to fall down again and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/for-after-all-man-knows-mighty-little-and-may-some-day-learn-enough/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/henry-adams-1542_enough_for-after-all-man-knows-mighty-little-an_1863099.png) > [ After Gibbs, one the most distinguished \[American scientists\] was Langley, of the Smithsonian. ... He had the physicist's heinous fault of professing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/after-gibbs-one-the-most-distinguished-american-scientists-was/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/henry-adams-1542_amusement_after-gibbs-one-the-most-distinguished-a_2216409.jpg) > [There have been times when the church seemed afraid, but she is no longer. Analyze, dissect, use your microscope or your spectrum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/there-have-been-times-when-the-church-seemed-afraid-but-she-is-no/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/henry-adams-1542_atoms_there-have-been-times-when-the-church-se_2529297.jpg) ## Other authors on Knows ## More by Henry Adams > [I am fairly tired--bored beyond endurance--by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/i-am-fairly-tired-bored-beyond-endurance-by-the-world-we-live-in-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“One had heard and read a great deal about death, and even seen a little of it, and knew by heart the thousand commonplaces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/one-had-heard-and-read-a-great-deal-about-death-and-even-seen-a/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/chaos-often-breeds-life-when-order-breeds-habit/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The chief wonder of education is that it does not ruin everybody concerned in it, teachers and taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-chief-wonder-of-education-is-that-it-does-not-ruin-everybody/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The American President resembles the commander of a ship at sea. He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-american-president-resembles-the-commander-of-a-ship-at-sea-he/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it reacts on himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-know-what-he-is-talking-about/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [No man should be in politics unless he would honestly rather not be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/no-man-should-be-in-politics-unless-he-would-honestly-rather-not-be/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [In the history of the United States, there is no continuity at all. You can cut through it anywhere and nothing on this side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/in-the-history-of-the-united-states-there-is-no-continuity-at-all-you/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“Washington was no politician as we understand the word," replied Ratcliffe abruptly. "He stood outside of politics. The thing couldn't be done today. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/washington-was-no-politician-as-we-understand-the-word-replied/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Power when wielded by abnormal energy is the most serious of facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/power-when-wielded-by-abnormal-energy-is-the-most-serious-of-facts/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows he may go to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength-the-devil-knows-he-may-go-to/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [All State education is a sort of dynamo machine for polarizing the popular mind; for turning and holding its lines of force in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/all-state-education-is-a-sort-of-dynamo-machine-for-polarizing-the/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [You may cut off the heads of every rich man now living--of every statesman--every literary, and every scientific authority, without in the least changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/you-may-cut-off-the-heads-of-every-rich-man-now-living-of-every/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [History is the most aristocratic of all literary pursuits, because it obliges the historian to be rich as well as educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/history-is-the-most-aristocratic-of-all-literary-pursuits-because-it/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The philosopher says--I am, and the church scouts his philosophy. She answers:--No! you are NOT, you have no existence of your own. You were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-philosopher-says-i-am-and-the-church-scouts-his-philosophy-she/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/henry-adams/#itemlist", "name": "10 Knows Quotes By Henry Adams", "numberOfItems": 10, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The historian must not try to know what is truth, if he values his honesty; for if he cares for his truths, he is certain to falsify his facts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-historian-must-not-try-to-know-what-is-truth-if-he-values-his/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/henry-adams-1542_care_the-historian-must-not-try-to-know-what_2469948.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/henry-adams-1542_care_the-historian-must-not-try-to-know-what_2469948.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/henry-adams-1542_care_the-historian-must-not-try-to-know-what_2469948.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The historian must not try to know what is truth, if he values his honesty; for if he cares for his truths…” — Henry Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it reacts on himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-know-what-he-is-talking-about/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/henry-adams-1542_disillusionment_the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-kn_23920.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/henry-adams-1542_disillusionment_the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-kn_23920.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/henry-adams-1542_disillusionment_the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-kn_23920.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it…” — Henry Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The less a tourist knows, the fewer mistakes he need make, for he will not expect himself to explain ignorance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-less-a-tourist-knows-the-fewer-mistakes-he-need-make-for-he-will/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/henry-adams-1542_failure_the-less-a-tourist-knows-the-fewer-mista_533758.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/henry-adams-1542_failure_the-less-a-tourist-knows-the-fewer-mista_533758.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/henry-adams-1542_failure_the-less-a-tourist-knows-the-fewer-mista_533758.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The less a tourist knows, the fewer mistakes he need make, for he will not expect himself to explain…” — Henry Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows he may go to sleep.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength-the-devil-knows-he-may-go-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/henry-adams-1542_devil_if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength_83152.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/henry-adams-1542_devil_if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength_83152.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/henry-adams-1542_devil_if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength_83152.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows he may go to sleep.” — Henry Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The whole fabric of society will go to wrack if we really lay hands of reform on our rotten institutions. From top to bottom the whole system is a fraud, all of us know it, laborers and capitalists alike, and all of us are consenting parties to it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-whole-fabric-of-society-will-go-to-wrack-if-we-really-lay-hands/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/henry-adams-1542_bottom_the-whole-fabric-of-society-will-go-to-w_2652350.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/henry-adams-1542_bottom_the-whole-fabric-of-society-will-go-to-w_2652350.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/henry-adams-1542_bottom_the-whole-fabric-of-society-will-go-to-w_2652350.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The whole fabric of society will go to wrack if we really lay hands of reform on our rotten institutions…” — Henry Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Education should try to lessen the obstacles, diminish the friction, invigorate the energy, and should train minds to react, not at haphazard, but by choice, on the lines of force that attract their world. What one knows is, in youth, of little moment; they know enough who know how to learn.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/education-should-try-to-lessen-the-obstacles-diminish-the-friction/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de4/henry-adams-1542_choices_education-should-try-to-lessen-the-obsta_1623321.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de4/henry-adams-1542_choices_education-should-try-to-lessen-the-obsta_1623321.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de4/henry-adams-1542_choices_education-should-try-to-lessen-the-obsta_1623321.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Education should try to lessen the obstacles, diminish the friction, invigorate the energy, and should train…” — Henry Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My belief is that science is to wreck us, and that we are like monkeys monkeying with a loaded shell; we don't in the least know or care where our practically infinite energies come from or will bring us to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/my-belief-is-that-science-is-to-wreck-us-and-that-we-are-like-monkeys/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/henry-adams-1542_belief_my-belief-is-that-science-is-to-wreck-us_521499.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/henry-adams-1542_belief_my-belief-is-that-science-is-to-wreck-us_521499.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/henry-adams-1542_belief_my-belief-is-that-science-is-to-wreck-us_521499.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My belief is that science is to wreck us, and that we are like monkeys monkeying with a loaded shell; we…” — Henry Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For after all man knows mighty little, and may some day learn enough of his own ignorance to fall down again and pray. Not that Icare. Only, if such is God's will, and Fate and Evolution--let there be God!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/for-after-all-man-knows-mighty-little-and-may-some-day-learn-enough/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/henry-adams-1542_enough_for-after-all-man-knows-mighty-little-an_1863099.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/henry-adams-1542_enough_for-after-all-man-knows-mighty-little-an_1863099.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/henry-adams-1542_enough_for-after-all-man-knows-mighty-little-an_1863099.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For after all man knows mighty little, and may some day learn enough of his own ignorance to fall down again…” — Henry Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After Gibbs, one the most distinguished [American scientists] was Langley, of the Smithsonian. ... He had the physicist's heinous fault of professing to know nothing between flashes of intense perception. ... Rigidly denying himself the amusement of philosophy, which consists chiefly in suggesting unintelligible answers to insoluble problems, and liked to wander past them in a courteous temper, even bowing to them distantly as though recognizing their existence, while doubting their respectibility.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/after-gibbs-one-the-most-distinguished-american-scientists-was/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/henry-adams-1542_amusement_after-gibbs-one-the-most-distinguished-a_2216409.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/henry-adams-1542_amusement_after-gibbs-one-the-most-distinguished-a_2216409.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/henry-adams-1542_amusement_after-gibbs-one-the-most-distinguished-a_2216409.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After Gibbs, one the most distinguished [American scientists] was Langley, of the Smithsonian. ... He had…” — Henry Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There have been times when the church seemed afraid, but she is no longer. Analyze, dissect, use your microscope or your spectrum till the last atom of matter is reached; reflect and refine till the last element of thought is made clear; the church now knows with the certainty of science what she once knew only by the certainty of faith, that you will find enthroned behind all thought and matter only one central idea--that idea which the church has never ceased to embody--I AM!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/there-have-been-times-when-the-church-seemed-afraid-but-she-is-no/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/henry-adams-1542_atoms_there-have-been-times-when-the-church-se_2529297.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/henry-adams-1542_atoms_there-have-been-times-when-the-church-se_2529297.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/henry-adams-1542_atoms_there-have-been-times-when-the-church-se_2529297.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There have been times when the church seemed afraid, but she is no longer. 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