--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [John Adams] is impressed with [Tomas]…" description: "\"[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 S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/gordon-s-wood-13199_congress_john-adams-is-impressed-with-tomas-jeffe_1569958.png" --- # \[John Adams\] is impressed with \[Tomas\] Jefferson's… ![“[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 Sentences together."” quote by Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/gordon-s-wood-13199_congress_john-adams-is-impressed-with-tomas-jeffe_1569958.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/gordon-s-wood-13199_congress_john-adams-is-impressed-with-tomas-jeffe_1569958.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/gordon-s-wood-13199_congress_john-adams-is-impressed-with-tomas-jeffe_1569958.png) > “\[John Adams\] is impressed with \[Tomas\] Jefferson's learning, but noted his silence during the debates in the Congress: "I never heard him utter three Sentences together."” [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. Jefferson’s silence in congressional debates surprised Adams, highlighting Jefferson’s reticence despite his intellectual reputation. **In simple terms:** Jefferson was quiet in debates, contrary to expectations. Key Takeaway Don’t assume expertise always translates to vocal participation. Themes politics communication leadership Mood analytical inquisitive Type historical political When to use this quote - legislative sessions - academic discussions - public debates Key Concepts public speaking political behavior Questions to Reflect On - Why might a knowledgeable person stay silent? - What are the risks of judging competence by talkativeness? A Different Perspective Silence can be strategic, not necessarily a lack of knowledge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adams Impressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adams-impressed-5908257/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Congress Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress-heard-1305567/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Debates Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debates-congress-1252668/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Impressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impressed/) [Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jefferson/) [Jefferson Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jefferson-learning-5908258/) [John Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-adam/) [John adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-adams/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Sentences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentences/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Tomas jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomas-jefferson/) ## Related quotes > [ \[John Adams and Tomas Jefferson\] 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/) > [ 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/) > [ \[John Adams\] 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. 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I never heard neither of them speak ten minutes at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-served-with-general-washington-in-die-legislature-of-virginia-and/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ 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/) > [ 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'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/) > [ \[John\] 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/) > [ 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/) > [ 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/) > [ 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/) ## 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. 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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. 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