--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A mutual friend, Benjamin Rush, brought…" description: "\"A mutual friend, Benjamin Rush, brought [Tomas Jefferson and John Adams] together in 1812, and they went on to exchange letters for the rest of their l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/gordon-s-wood-13199_controversial_a-mutual-friend-benjamin-rush-brought-to_487463.png" --- # A mutual friend, Benjamin Rush, brought \[Tomas Jefferson… ![“A mutual friend, Benjamin Rush, brought [Tomas Jefferson and John Adams] together in 1812, and they went on to exchange letters for the rest of their lives. But in their correspondence they tended to avoid the most controversial issues, such as slavery.” quote by Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/gordon-s-wood-13199_controversial_a-mutual-friend-benjamin-rush-brought-to_487463.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/gordon-s-wood-13199_controversial_a-mutual-friend-benjamin-rush-brought-to_487463.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/gordon-s-wood-13199_controversial_a-mutual-friend-benjamin-rush-brought-to_487463.png) > “A mutual friend, Benjamin Rush, brought \[Tomas Jefferson and John Adams\] together in 1812, and they went on to exchange letters for the rest of their lives. But in their correspondence they tended to avoid the most controversial issues, such as slavery.” [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Benjamin Rush introduced Jefferson and Adams, whose lifelong letters avoided contentious topics like slavery. **In simple terms:** Rush linked Jefferson and Adams, who avoided controversial subjects in letters. Key Takeaway Be aware of topics you may sidestep in relationships. Themes friendship communication historical relationships Mood reflective thoughtful Type historical analytical When to use this quote - academic study - personal relationships - historical analysis Key Concepts political avoidance personal correspondence Questions to Reflect On - What topics do you avoid in friendships? - How does avoidance affect trust? A Different Perspective Avoiding controversy can limit honest dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) [Controversial issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial-issues/) [Correspondence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correspondence/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Tomas jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomas-jefferson/) ## Related quotes > [ \[John\] Adams was the best and most colorful stylist among the Founders. Although \[Tomas\] Jefferson is widely regarded as the smoothest writer, Adams is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-was-the-best-and-most-colorful-stylist-among-the-founders/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ More than any other figure in our history \[Tomas\] Jefferson is responsible for the idea of American exceptionalism. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/more-than-any-other-figure-in-our-history-tomas-jefferson-is/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ I think \[John's Adams\] descriptions of the personalities of \[Benjamin\] Franklin and \[Tomas\] Jefferson and others were pretty accurate. It is only when he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/i-think-john-s-adams-descriptions-of-the-personalities-of-benjamin/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ \[John Adams and Tomas Jefferson\] shared experience in 1775 - 1776 in bringing about the separation from Britain and their service in Europe cemented… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-and-tomas-jefferson-shared-experience-in-1775-1776-in/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/the-declaration-of-independence-was-a-committee-report-and-tomas/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ \[John Adams\] always felt that his contribution to bringing about independence went unappreciated, especially after the 1790s when \[Tomas\] Jefferson began to be lauded… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-always-felt-that-his-contribution-to-bringing-about/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ \[John Adams\] is impressed with \[Tomas\] Jefferson's learning, but noted his silence during the debates in the Congress: "I never heard him utter three… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-is-impressed-with-tomas-jefferson-s-learning-but-noted-his/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ After \[Tomas\] Jefferson's defeat of \[John\] Adams in the presidential election of 1800, they didn't communicate with one another for more than a decade. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/after-tomas-jefferson-s-defeat-of-john-adams-in-the-presidential/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ \[Tomas\] Jefferson believed that the United States was a chosen nation with a special responsibility to spread democracy around the world. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/tomas-jefferson-believed-that-the-united-states-was-a-chosen-nation/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ The relationship between \[John\] Adams and \[Tomas\] Jefferson was extraordinary. They differed on every conceivable issue, except on the Revolution and the love of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/the-relationship-between-john-adams-and-tomas-jefferson-was/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ \[John\] Adams's perception of Europe, and especially France, was clearly different than \[Tomas\] Jefferson's. For Jefferson, the luxury and sophistication of Europe only made… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-s-perception-of-europe-and-especially-france-was-clearly/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ Again and again \[Tomas\] Jefferson deftly sidesteps many of \[John\] Adams's often provocative remarks. They both felt the correspondence, which was written for posterity,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/again-and-again-tomas-jefferson-deftly-sidesteps-many-of-john-adams-s/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ “\[Philip's death was\] beyond comparison the most afflicting of my life… He was truly a fine youth. But why should I repine? It was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/philip-s-death-was-beyond-comparison-the-most-afflicting-of-my-life/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [“Sometimes...I lose myself in looking back upon the ocean which I have passed, and now and then find myself surprised by a tear in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-murphy/sometimes-i-lose-myself-in-looking-back-upon-the-ocean-which-i-have/) Jim Murphy > [“Jefferson then distilled and enunciated these “essentials” in several personal works he shared with friends, his “Syllabus,” and two extracts from the Bible: “The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-k-green/jefferson-then-distilled-and-enunciated-these-essentials-in-several/) [Steven K. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-k-green/) ## More by Gordon S. Wood > [ \[The Massachusetts constitution\] resembles the federal Constitution of 1787 more closely than any of the other revolutionary state constitutions. It was also drawn up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/the-massachusetts-constitution-resembles-the-federal-constitution-of/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [If history teaches anything, it teaches humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/if-history-teaches-anything-it-teaches-humility/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ \[John\] Adams identified himself with the political theories of \[James\] Harrington, \[John\] Locke, and \[Charles-Louis\] Montesquieu, whose ideas of constitutionalism, he believed, were applicable… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-identified-himself-with-the-political-theories-of-james/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ \[John\] Adams was the best and most colorful stylist among the Founders. Although \[Tomas\] Jefferson is widely regarded as the smoothest writer, Adams is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-was-the-best-and-most-colorful-stylist-among-the-founders/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [This rationale, which justified the mixed constitution of Great Britain, might have made some sense in 1776, but by 1787 most American thinkers had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/this-rationale-which-justified-the-mixed-constitution-of-great/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ By the time \[John Adams\] came to write his Defence of the Constitutions of the United States in 1787 he had as dark a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/by-the-time-john-adams-came-to-write-his-defence-of-the-constitutions/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ Creating senates, the French critics said, implied that there was another social order besides the people represented in the houses of representatives. \[John\] Adams… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/creating-senates-the-french-critics-said-implied-that-there-was/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ By 1782 \[John Adams\] had come to feel for \[Benjamin\] Franklin "no other sentiments than Contempt or Abhorrence." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/by-1782-john-adams-had-come-to-feel-for-benjamin-franklin-no-other/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ I think \[John Adams\] developed a much deeper suspicion of France and the other European powers than he had earlier. He lost much if… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/i-think-john-adams-developed-a-much-deeper-suspicion-of-france-and/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ \[John\] Adams never had an optimistic view of human nature, and his experience in the Congress and abroad only deepened his suspicion that his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-never-had-an-optimistic-view-of-human-nature-and-his/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [“Intellectual activity in a culture is not a one-way flow between the great minds and passive recipients; it is a discourse, a complex marketplace-like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/intellectual-activity-in-a-culture-is-not-a-one-way-flow-between-the/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ \[John\] Adams's perception of Europe, and especially France, was clearly different than \[Tomas\] Jefferson's. 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