Politics Quote by David McCullough
““That there would be a political advantage in having the declaration written by a Virginian was clear, for the same reason there had been political advantage in having the Virginian Washington in command of the army. But be that as it may, Jefferson, with his "peculiar felicity of expression," as Adams said, was the best choice for the task, just as Washington had been the best choice to command the Continental Army, and again Adams had played a key part. Had his contributions as a member of Congress been only that of casting the two Virginians in their respective, fateful roles, his service to the American cause would have been very great.””
About This Quote
Source Book: John Adams, 2001
Jefferson’s eloquence made him the ideal choice for drafting the Declaration, similar to Washington’s military leadership.
In simple terms: Jefferson’s writing skill was crucial for the Declaration.
Key Takeaway
Value clear communication in leadership.
Themes
politics
leadership
history
Mood
analytical
historical
Type
educational
reflective
When to use this quote
- writing speeches
- political strategy
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
rhetoric
founding fathers
Questions to Reflect On
- Why was eloquence valued over other traits?
- How do we assess leadership suitability today?
A Different Perspective
Historical context may oversimplify complex decisions.
![“According to Adams, Jefferson proposed that he, Adams, do the writing [pf the Declaration of Independence], but that he declined, telling Jefferson he must do it. Why?" Jefferson asked, as Adams would recount. Reasons enough," Adams said. What can be your reasons?" Reason first: you are a…” quote by David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c0d/david-mccullough-1091_declaration_according-to-adams-jefferson-proposed-th_1305261.jpg)
![“The Declaration [of Independence] was a committee report, and [Tomas] Jefferson was simply the draftsman. [John] Adams's crucial role in bringing about independence in the Continental Congress has tended to get forgotten.” quote by Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/121/gordon-s-wood-13199_committees_the-declaration-of-independence-was-a-co_2442911.jpg)
![“[John Adams] always felt that his contribution to bringing about independence went unappreciated, especially after the 1790s when [Tomas] Jefferson began to be lauded as the "author" of the Declaration of Independence.” quote by Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5be/gordon-s-wood-13199_books_john-adams-always-felt-that-his-contribu_2260931.jpg)
