--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Creating senates, the French critics…" description: "\"Creating senates, the French critics said, implied that there was another social order besides the people represented in the houses of representatives...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/gordon-s-wood-13199_aristocracy_creating-senates-the-french-critics-said_349374.jpg" --- # Creating senates, the French critics said, implied that… ![“Creating senates, the French critics said, implied that there was another social order besides the people represented in the houses of representatives. [John] Adams actually agreed with that implication and argued that the aristocracy and the people had to have separate houses; this was the only…” quote by Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/gordon-s-wood-13199_aristocracy_creating-senates-the-french-critics-said_349374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/gordon-s-wood-13199_aristocracy_creating-senates-the-french-critics-said_349374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/gordon-s-wood-13199_aristocracy_creating-senates-the-french-critics-said_349374.jpg) > “Creating senates, the French critics said, implied that there was another social order besides the people represented in the houses of representatives. \[John\] Adams actually agreed with that implication and argued that the aristocracy and the people had to have separate houses; this was the only way the power of the aristocracy could be contained.” [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 a separate aristocratic chamber was needed to balance popular power and prevent elite dominance. **In simple terms:** Separate houses keep power balanced. Key Takeaway Design institutions that separate elite and popular interests. Themes political theory checks and balances republicanism Mood analytical reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - constitutional drafting - legislative reform - civic education Key Concepts aristocracy popular sovereignty institutional design Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure cooperation between separate chambers? - What safeguards prevent aristocratic dominance? A Different Perspective May create gridlock if chambers cannot cooperate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [House of representatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-of-representatives/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Representatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representatives/) [Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senate/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-order/) ## Related quotes > [In an autocracy, one person has his way; in an aristocracy, a few people have their way; in a democracy, no one has his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-green/in-an-autocracy-one-person-has-his-way-in-an-aristocracy-a-few-people/) [Celia Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-green/) > [ \[ Massachusetts constitution\] 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/) > [The constitution has divided the powers of government into three branches, Legislative, Executive and Judiciary, lodging each with a distinct magistracy. The Legislative it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-constitution-has-divided-the-powers-of-government-into-three/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is therefore not to be wondered at that Lincolns single term in the House of Representatives at Washington added practically nothing to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-is-therefore-not-to-be-wondered-at-that-lincolns-single-term-in/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [ I think \[Steve Scalise\] is a good man I am not going to vote in that regard because I believe Israel controls the Senate… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/i-think-steve-scalise-is-a-good-man-i-am-not-going-to-vote-in-that/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [We have not only a Hindu prayer being offered in the Senate, we have a Muslim member of the House of Representatives now, Keith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-sali/we-have-not-only-a-hindu-prayer-being-offered-in-the-senate-we-have-a/) Bill Sali > [Suppose two-thirds of the members of the national House of Representatives were dumped into the Washington garbage incinerator tomorrow, what would we lose to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/suppose-two-thirds-of-the-members-of-the-national-house-of/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [The rich, the well-born, and the able, acquire an influence among the people that will soon be too much for simple honesty and plain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-rich-the-well-born-and-the-able-acquire-an-influence-among-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [While on the subject of burning books, I want to congratulate librarians, not famous for their physical strength, who, all over this country, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/while-on-the-subject-of-burning-books-i-want-to-congratulate/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [We don't want Washington Democrats running the House of Representatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-don-t-want-washington-democrats-running-the-house-of/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [An impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/an-impeachable-offense-is-whatever-a-majority-of-the-house-of/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [I don't think anyone is closer to the voters in Washington than members of the House of Representatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-woodruff/i-don-t-think-anyone-is-closer-to-the-voters-in-washington-than/) [Judy Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-woodruff/) > [With all of the talk about polling and demographics, I think too many people have lost touch with the human and moral crisis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-holt-baker/with-all-of-the-talk-about-polling-and-demographics-i-think-too-many/) Arlene Holt Baker > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## 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/) > [ 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/) > [ 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/) [Explore all 51 Gordon S. Wood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) ## More Aristocracy quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though -- if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [24.9 percent of American children live in poverty, while the proportions in Germany, France and Italy are 8.6, 7.4 and 10.5 percent. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hutton/24-9-percent-of-american-children-live-in-poverty-while-the/) [Will Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hutton/) > [Tomorrow every Duchess in London will be waiting to kiss me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsay-macdonald/tomorrow-every-duchess-in-london-will-be-waiting-to-kiss-me/) [Ramsay MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsay-macdonald/) > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? 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The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) [Browse all 426 Aristocracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Creating senates, the French critics said, implied that there was another social order besides the people represented in the houses of representatives. [John] Adams actually agreed with that implication and argued that the aristocracy and the people had to have separate houses; this was the only way the power of the aristocracy could be contained.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gordon S. 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