--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Americans, [John Adams] wrote in 1780…" description: "\"Americans, [John Adams] wrote in 1780, believed that their \"revolution is as much for the benefit of the generality of Mankind in Europe, as for their ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/gordon-s-wood-13199_benefits_americans-john-adams-wrote-in-1780-belie_1953074.png" --- # Americans, \[John Adams\] wrote in 1780, believed that their… ![“Americans, [John Adams] wrote in 1780, believed that their "revolution is as much for the benefit of the generality of Mankind in Europe, as for their own."” quote by Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/gordon-s-wood-13199_benefits_americans-john-adams-wrote-in-1780-belie_1953074.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/gordon-s-wood-13199_benefits_americans-john-adams-wrote-in-1780-belie_1953074.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/gordon-s-wood-13199_benefits_americans-john-adams-wrote-in-1780-belie_1953074.png) > “Americans, \[John Adams\] wrote in 1780, believed that their "revolution is as much for the benefit of the generality of Mankind in Europe, as for their own."” [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. Adams believed the American Revolution served both national interests and the broader Enlightenment goal of advancing humanity in Europe. **In simple terms:** Revolution helped America and Europe alike. Key Takeaway Recognize how local actions can have global impact. Themes politics history philosophy Mood reflective inspirational Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - education reform - foreign policy - civil rights movements Key Concepts Enlightenment nationalism humanitarianism Questions to Reflect On - How does a national cause benefit the world? - What responsibilities arise from such a belief? A Different Perspective May overlook the self‑interest motives behind rhetoric. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) ## Related quotes > [“When writing the constitution for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, John Adams wrote: I must judge for myself, but how can I judge, how can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/when-writing-the-constitution-for-the-commonwealth-of-massachusetts/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“I pray heaven,” Adams wrote, “to bestow the best of blessings on this house, and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-pray-heaven-adams-wrote-to-bestow-the-best-of-blessings-on-this/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [ 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/) > [ \[ Massachusetts constitution\] was \[John Adams\] attempt to justify that structure by the traditional notion of social estates - that the executive represented the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/massachusetts-constitution-was-john-adams-attempt-to-justify-that/) [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/) > [ \[John Adams\] diary, of course, is even more revealing of his feelings. Both his letters to \[his wife\] Abigail and his diary tell us… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-diary-of-course-is-even-more-revealing-of-his-feelings/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ \[Benjamin\] Franklin may be a great philosopher, \[John Adams\] told his diary in 1779, but "as a Legislator in America he has done very little." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/benjamin-franklin-may-be-a-great-philosopher-john-adams-told-his/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ \[John Adams's\] vividly descriptive prose is supremely quotable. Adams wears his heart on his sleeve and reveals all of his ambitions, doubts, and insecurities,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-s-vividly-descriptive-prose-is-supremely-quotable-adams/) [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/) > [ \[John Adams\] experience with the French philosophers only convinced him further of the need for a bicameral legislature representing the two principal social orders… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-experience-with-the-french-philosophers-only-convinced-him/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ Deeply versed in history, \[John Adams\] said over and over that America had no special providence, no special role in history, that Americans were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/deeply-versed-in-history-john-adams-said-over-and-over-that-america/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ A mutual friend, Benjamin Rush, brought \[Tomas Jefferson and John Adams\] together in 1812, and they went on to exchange letters for the rest… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/a-mutual-friend-benjamin-rush-brought-tomas-jefferson-and-john-adams/) [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/) > [ 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/) > [ As early as 1776, \[John Adams\] expressed his doubts about America's capacity for virtue. "I have seen all along my Life, Such Selfishness, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/as-early-as-1776-john-adams-expressed-his-doubts-about-america-s/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) ## 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/) > [ A mutual friend, Benjamin Rush, brought \[Tomas Jefferson and John Adams\] together in 1812, and they went on to exchange letters for the rest… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/a-mutual-friend-benjamin-rush-brought-tomas-jefferson-and-john-adams/) [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. 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/) > [History is the queen of the humanities. It teaches wisdom and humility, and it tells us how things change through time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/history-is-the-queen-of-the-humanities-it-teaches-wisdom-and-humility/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [“In the decades following the Revolution, America changed so much and so rapidly that Americans not only became used to change, but came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/in-the-decades-following-the-revolution-america-changed-so-much-and/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) [Explore all 51 Gordon S. 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