--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So, it was done, the break was made, in…" description: "\"“So, it was done, the break was made, in words at least: on July 2, 1776, in Philadelphia, the American colonies declared independence. If not all thir..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/david-mccullough-1091_devotion-to-god_so-it-was-done-the-break-was-made-in-wor_1947907.jpg" --- # So, it was done, the break was made, in words at least: on… ![“So, it was done, the break was made, in words at least: on July 2, 1776, in Philadelphia, the American colonies declared independence. If not all thirteen clocks had struck as one, twelve had, and with the other silent, the effect was the same. It was John Adams, more than anyone, who had made it…” quote by David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/david-mccullough-1091_devotion-to-god_so-it-was-done-the-break-was-made-in-wor_1947907.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/david-mccullough-1091_devotion-to-god_so-it-was-done-the-break-was-made-in-wor_1947907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/david-mccullough-1091_devotion-to-god_so-it-was-done-the-break-was-made-in-wor_1947907.jpg) > ““So, it was done, the break was made, in words at least: on July 2, 1776, in Philadelphia, the American colonies declared independence. If not all thirteen clocks had struck as one, twelve had, and with the other silent, the effect was the same. It was John Adams, more than anyone, who had made it happen. Further, he seems to have understood more clearly than any what a momentous day it was and in the privacy of two long letters to Abigail, he poured out his feelings as did no one else: The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”” [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adams saw July 2, 1776 as a pivotal moment deserving lasting celebration and national reverence. **In simple terms:** Adams believed July 2 should be a major holiday. Key Takeaway Remember and honor pivotal historical dates. Themes history patriotism celebration national identity Mood reflective proud Type historical commemorative When to use this quote - school curricula - public holidays - heritage festivals - community events Key Concepts founding era collective memory civic ritual Questions to Reflect On - How can we keep foundational history relevant today? - What rituals best honor past sacrifices? A Different Perspective Modern societies may prioritize other holidays, reducing emphasis on this date. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1776 Memorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1776-memorable-3143113/) [1776 Philadelphia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1776-philadelphia-3143114/) [Adams Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adams-happen-3143115/) [Devotion to god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion-to-god/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [God almighty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-almighty/) [John Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-adam/) [John adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-adams/) [July 1776](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/july-1776-974004/) ## Related quotes > [“It was on July 2, 1776 that the Second Continental Congress voted for the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/it-was-on-july-2-1776-that-the-second-continental-congress-voted-for/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/) > [“Congress approved of the Declaration of Independence on July 2, 1776 but returned it to Adams and Jefferson for some fine tuning before giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/congress-approved-of-the-declaration-of-independence-on-july-2-1776/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“surrendered to Grant. Not since July 4, 1776,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-angle/surrendered-to-grant-not-since-july-4-1776/) [Paul Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-angle/) > [From April 1775 to July 1776, the undeclared war between England and its American colonies smoldered, flared up, appeared to sputter out... It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/from-april-1775-to-july-1776-the-undeclared-war-between-england-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [July 4, 1776 was the historic day on which the representatives of three millions of people vocalized Concord, and Lexington, and Bunker Hill, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/july-4-1776-was-the-historic-day-on-which-the-representatives-of/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [The flames kindled on the Fourth of July, 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-flames-kindled-on-the-fourth-of-july-1776-have-spread-over-too/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“The Westminster government continued to aggravate the situation by haughty mismanagement, and on 4 July 1776 the Congress passed a Declaration of Independence from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zamoyski/the-westminster-government-continued-to-aggravate-the-situation-by/) [Adam Zamoyski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zamoyski/) > [Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives. - John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/our-obligations-to-our-country-never-cease-but-with-our-lives-john/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [When a friend of Abigail and John Adams was killed at Bunker Hill, Abigail's response was to write a letter to her husband and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/when-a-friend-of-abigail-and-john-adams-was-killed-at-bunker-hill/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“One might also say that history is not about the past. If you think about it, no one ever lived in the past. Washington,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/one-might-also-say-that-history-is-not-about-the-past-if-you-think/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“There was a burst of applause when George Washington entered and walked to the dais. More applause followed on the appearance of Thomas Jefferson,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/there-was-a-burst-of-applause-when-george-washington-entered-and/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“But let us not forget, too, that it was John Adams who nominated George Washington to be commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/but-let-us-not-forget-too-that-it-was-john-adams-who-nominated-george/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [For many, the hijab represents modesty, piety and devotion to God, and I truly respect that. But the hijab should not be used as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-rania-of-jordan/for-many-the-hijab-represents-modesty-piety-and-devotion-to-god-and-i/) [Queen Rania of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-rania-of-jordan/) > [“Godliness is a devotion to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/godliness-is-a-devotion-to-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The discipline of daily devotion to God undergirds decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/the-discipline-of-daily-devotion-to-god-undergirds-decisions/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) ## More by David McCullough > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Steamboats by this time were becoming a familiar presence on the rivers and coastal waters of America, but not until 1838 did steam-powered ships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/steamboats-by-this-time-were-becoming-a-familiar-presence-on-the/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [I feel that history is in many ways the most important of all subjects because it is about everything and because it's about who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-feel-that-history-is-in-many-ways-the-most-important-of-all/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Even mighty states and kingdoms are not exempted. If we look into history, we shall find some nations rising from contemptible beginnings and spreading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/even-mighty-states-and-kingdoms-are-not-exempted-if-we-look-into/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [History isn't just what happened, but what happened to whom and why and what would have been different if the cast of characters had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/history-isn-t-just-what-happened-but-what-happened-to-whom-and-why/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [Nobody ever lived in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/nobody-ever-lived-in-the-past/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Only TR openly declared his love for the job. “Nobody ever enjoyed the presidency as I did,” he boasted, and by all evidence that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/only-tr-openly-declared-his-love-for-the-job-nobody-ever-enjoyed-the/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“s ships Phoenix and Rose, in the company of three tenders, cast off their moorings at Staten Island and started up the harbor under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/s-ships-phoenix-and-rose-in-the-company-of-three-tenders-cast-off/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“a people may let a King fall, yet still remain a people, but if a King let his people slip from him, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/a-people-may-let-a-king-fall-yet-still-remain-a-people-but-if-a-king/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [Why limit yourself to the experience of your own relatively brief time on earth, according to your biological clock, when the whole realm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/why-limit-yourself-to-the-experience-of-your-own-relatively-brief/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“He worked at a plain, tall desk at which he wrote standing up or perched on a high stool,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/he-worked-at-a-plain-tall-desk-at-which-he-wrote-standing-up-or/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Nothing happens in isolation. Everything that happens has consequences. We”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/nothing-happens-in-isolation-everything-that-happens-has-consequences/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [America faces an enemy who believes in enforced ignorance. And all that we stand for is the open mind, the generous spirit, the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/america-faces-an-enemy-who-believes-in-enforced-ignorance-and-all/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [My shorthand answer is that I try to write the kind of book that I would like to read. If I can make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/my-shorthand-answer-is-that-i-try-to-write-the-kind-of-book-that-i/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Seen under the microscope, Stegomyia is a creature of striking beauty. Its general color is dark gray, but the thorax is marked with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/seen-under-the-microscope-stegomyia-is-a-creature-of-striking-beauty/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) [Explore all 291 David McCullough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) ## More Devotion to god quotes > [The discipline of daily devotion to God undergirds decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/the-discipline-of-daily-devotion-to-god-undergirds-decisions/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [“Godliness is a devotion to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/godliness-is-a-devotion-to-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [For many, the hijab represents modesty, piety and devotion to God, and I truly respect that. But the hijab should not be used as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-rania-of-jordan/for-many-the-hijab-represents-modesty-piety-and-devotion-to-god-and-i/) [Queen Rania of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-rania-of-jordan/) > [The fruit of patience in all its aspects - long-suffering, forbearance, endurance, and perseverance - is a fruit that is most intimately associated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/the-fruit-of-patience-in-all-its-aspects-long-suffering-forbearance/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [We live in the age of Noah (a.s.) in the sense that a flood of distraction accosts us. It is a slow and subtle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamza-yusuf/we-live-in-the-age-of-noah-a-s-in-the-sense-that-a-flood-of/) [Hamza Yusuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamza-yusuf/) > [There seemed to be some correlation between devotion to God and a misguided zeal for marshmallows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/there-seemed-to-be-some-correlation-between-devotion-to-god-and-a/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [If I was told to sacrifice something to prove my devotion to God, if I was told to do what all monotheists are told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/if-i-was-told-to-sacrifice-something-to-prove-my-devotion-to-god-if-i/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“There was something a bit sinister about Noah’s devotion to God; creepy, if you know what I mean.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/there-was-something-a-bit-sinister-about-noah-s-devotion-to-god/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“Luther and Calvin believed that both the Roman church on the right and the Zwinglian and Anabaptist churches on the left made the Lord's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-dale-bruner/luther-and-calvin-believed-that-both-the-roman-church-on-the-right/) [Frederick Dale Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-dale-bruner/) > [“When I corrected her, I told her that in fact she was not so wrong; that Hindus, in their capacity for love, are indeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/when-i-corrected-her-i-told-her-that-in-fact-she-was-not-so-wrong/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [“And so, when she first heard of Hare Krishnas, she didn’t hear right. She heard “Hairless Christians”, and that is what they were to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/and-so-when-she-first-heard-of-hare-krishnas-she-didn-t-hear-right/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [Always remember the essence of Christian holiness is simplicity and purity: one design, one desire: entire devotion to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/always-remember-the-essence-of-christian-holiness-is-simplicity-and/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > ['Zeal' is essentially a compromising devotion to God, a commitment to cleansing the Holy Land of all foreign and pagan presences and to re-establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/zeal-is-essentially-a-compromising-devotion-to-god-a-commitment-to/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [“DEVOTION TO GOD’S KINGDOM OVER SELF OR TRIBE ENABLES SACRIFICE People in a church with movement dynamics put the vision ahead of their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/devotion-to-god-s-kingdom-over-self-or-tribe-enables-sacrifice-people/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Desire can be eradicated from the roots by firmly imbibing the four attributes of: Jnan, Atmanishtha, Vairagya, Dharma and the full fledged devotion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/desire-can-be-eradicated-from-the-roots-by-firmly-imbibing-the-four/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) [Browse all 47 Devotion to god quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion-to-god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So, it was done, the break was made, in words at least: on July 2, 1776, in Philadelphia, the American colonies declared independence. If not all thirteen clocks had struck as one, twelve had, and with the other silent, the effect was the same. It was John Adams, more than anyone, who had made it happen. Further, he seems to have understood more clearly than any what a momentous day it was and in the privacy of two long letters to Abigail, he poured out his feelings as did no one else: The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David McCullough" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/so-it-was-done-the-break-was-made-in-words-at-least-on-july-2-1776-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Devotion to god" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/so-it-was-done-the-break-was-made-in-words-at-least-on-july-2-1776-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/david-mccullough-1091_devotion-to-god_so-it-was-done-the-break-was-made-in-wor_1947907.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/david-mccullough-1091_devotion-to-god_so-it-was-done-the-break-was-made-in-wor_1947907.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/david-mccullough-1091_devotion-to-god_so-it-was-done-the-break-was-made-in-wor_1947907.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So, it was done, the break was made, in words at least: on July 2, 1776, in Philadelphia, the American…” — David McCullough", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David McCullough", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“So, it was done, the break...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/so-it-was-done-the-break-was-made-in-words-at-least-on-july-2-1776-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/so-it-was-done-the-break-was-made-in-words-at-least-on-july-2-1776-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```