--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So Henry Adams, well aware that he could…" description: "\"“So Henry Adams, well aware that he could not succeed as a scholar, and finding his social position beyond improvement or need of effort, betook himsel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/904/henry-adams-1542_o-henry_so-henry-adams-well-aware-that-he-could_363420.jpg" --- # So Henry Adams, well aware that he could not succeed as a… ![“So Henry Adams, well aware that he could not succeed as a scholar, and finding his social position beyond improvement or need of effort, betook himself to the single ambition which otherwise would scarcely have seemed a true outcome of the college, though it was the last remnant of the old…” quote by Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/904/henry-adams-1542_o-henry_so-henry-adams-well-aware-that-he-could_363420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/904/henry-adams-1542_o-henry_so-henry-adams-well-aware-that-he-could_363420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/904/henry-adams-1542_o-henry_so-henry-adams-well-aware-that-he-could_363420.jpg) > ““So Henry Adams, well aware that he could not succeed as a scholar, and finding his social position beyond improvement or need of effort, betook himself to the single ambition which otherwise would scarcely have seemed a true outcome of the college, though it was the last remnant of the old Unitarian supremacy. He took to the pen. He wrote.”” [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adams acknowledges his limits as a scholar and redirects his ambition to writing, embracing a realistic path aligned with his background. **In simple terms:** He chose writing over scholarly success. Key Takeaway Accept your strengths and pursue suitable goals. Themes self-awareness career ambition realism Mood reflective determined Type biographical inspirational When to use this quote - academic disappointment - career pivot - writing career - personal fulfillment Key Concepts identity social class creative expression Questions to Reflect On - How can one identify a realistic ambition? - What role does social background play in career choices? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of scholarly pursuits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition Scarcely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-scarcely-3331605/) [College Remnant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-remnant-3331606/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/henry-adams-1432219/) [O henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/o-henry/) [Pen Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pen-wrote-1062664/) [Unitarian Supremacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unitarian-supremacy-3331607/) ## Related quotes > [“The habit of doubt; of distrusting his own judgment and of totally rejecting the judgment of the world; the tendency to regard every question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-habit-of-doubt-of-distrusting-his-own-judgment-and-of-totally/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“It was as if I was right there with Magellan, following every curve of his pen as he wrote down his words to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celma-ribeiro/it-was-as-if-i-was-right-there-with-magellan-following-every-curve-of/) [Celma Ribeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celma-ribeiro/) > [In Boston terms I was everyone and no one, with no social investment, no social insecurity, sort of Imitation of Christ in one hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/in-boston-terms-i-was-everyone-and-no-one-with-no-social-investment/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [Henry Adams was scared shitless, politically, by the discovery that England isn't alien to a boy from Boston, but it was true, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/henry-adams-was-scared-shitless-politically-by-the-discovery-that/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [“But as we all know, rock ‘n’ roll will never die, and education too, as Henry Adams always sez, keeps going on forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/but-as-we-all-know-rock-n-roll-will-never-die-and-education-too-as/) [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) > [Translate a book a dozen times from one language to another, and what becomes of its style? Most books would be worn out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/translate-a-book-a-dozen-times-from-one-language-to-another-and-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [For me taking a pragmatic decision when it comes to art is almost an oxymoron. The reason I first picked up a pen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/for-me-taking-a-pragmatic-decision-when-it-comes-to-art-is-almost-an/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“When my prayers to God were met with indifference, I picked up a pen, I wrote my own deliverance”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/when-my-prayers-to-god-were-met-with-indifference-i-picked-up-a-pen-i/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [What we shall be is written, and we are so. Headless of God or Evil,Pen, wrote on! By the first day all futures were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/what-we-shall-be-is-written-and-we-are-so-headless-of-god-or-evil-pen/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [In Henry Adams, I discovered not only the prototype of the modern thinker but also someone who is more interesting: a viper-toothed, puling, supercilious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-henry-adams-i-discovered-not-only-the-prototype-of-the-modern/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“Politics, as a practice, whatever its professions, has always been the systematic organization of hatreds. —Henry Adams”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-benjamin/politics-as-a-practice-whatever-its-professions-has-always-been-the/) [Oliver Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-benjamin/) > [“The woman clearly didn't like me or the pen I wrote with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-pike/the-woman-clearly-didn-t-like-me-or-the-pen-i-wrote-with/) [Penny Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-pike/) > [Whatever part I'm playing, I always carry with me something that's been used by an illustrious predecessor. I'm a great believer in a touching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-sinden/whatever-part-i-m-playing-i-always-carry-with-me-something-that-s/) [Donald Sinden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-sinden/) > [As a Nobel Prize winner I cannot but regret that the award was never given to Mark Twain, nor to Henry James, speaking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/as-a-nobel-prize-winner-i-cannot-but-regret-that-the-award-was-never/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Before World War II, I was living a very cloistered existence, as most cartoonists do. The work I was pouring out did not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-eisner/before-world-war-ii-i-was-living-a-very-cloistered-existence-as-most/) [Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-eisner/) ## More by Henry Adams > [I am fairly tired--bored beyond endurance--by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/i-am-fairly-tired-bored-beyond-endurance-by-the-world-we-live-in-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“One had heard and read a great deal about death, and even seen a little of it, and knew by heart the thousand commonplaces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/one-had-heard-and-read-a-great-deal-about-death-and-even-seen-a/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/chaos-often-breeds-life-when-order-breeds-habit/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The chief wonder of education is that it does not ruin everybody concerned in it, teachers and taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-chief-wonder-of-education-is-that-it-does-not-ruin-everybody/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The American President resembles the commander of a ship at sea. He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-american-president-resembles-the-commander-of-a-ship-at-sea-he/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it reacts on himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-know-what-he-is-talking-about/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [No man should be in politics unless he would honestly rather not be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/no-man-should-be-in-politics-unless-he-would-honestly-rather-not-be/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [In the history of the United States, there is no continuity at all. You can cut through it anywhere and nothing on this side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/in-the-history-of-the-united-states-there-is-no-continuity-at-all-you/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“Washington was no politician as we understand the word," replied Ratcliffe abruptly. "He stood outside of politics. The thing couldn't be done today. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/washington-was-no-politician-as-we-understand-the-word-replied/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Power when wielded by abnormal energy is the most serious of facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/power-when-wielded-by-abnormal-energy-is-the-most-serious-of-facts/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows he may go to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength-the-devil-knows-he-may-go-to/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [All State education is a sort of dynamo machine for polarizing the popular mind; for turning and holding its lines of force in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/all-state-education-is-a-sort-of-dynamo-machine-for-polarizing-the/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [You may cut off the heads of every rich man now living--of every statesman--every literary, and every scientific authority, without in the least changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/you-may-cut-off-the-heads-of-every-rich-man-now-living-of-every/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [History is the most aristocratic of all literary pursuits, because it obliges the historian to be rich as well as educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/history-is-the-most-aristocratic-of-all-literary-pursuits-because-it/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The philosopher says--I am, and the church scouts his philosophy. She answers:--No! you are NOT, you have no existence of your own. You were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-philosopher-says-i-am-and-the-church-scouts-his-philosophy-she/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) [Explore all 230 Henry Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) ## More O henry quotes > [Before World War II, I was living a very cloistered existence, as most cartoonists do. The work I was pouring out did not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-eisner/before-world-war-ii-i-was-living-a-very-cloistered-existence-as-most/) [Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-eisner/) > [As a Nobel Prize winner I cannot but regret that the award was never given to Mark Twain, nor to Henry James, speaking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/as-a-nobel-prize-winner-i-cannot-but-regret-that-the-award-was-never/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Whatever part I'm playing, I always carry with me something that's been used by an illustrious predecessor. I'm a great believer in a touching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-sinden/whatever-part-i-m-playing-i-always-carry-with-me-something-that-s/) [Donald Sinden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-sinden/) > [“Sion calls Anne an eel, he calls her a slippery dipper from the slime, and he remembers what the cardinal had called her: my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/sion-calls-anne-an-eel-he-calls-her-a-slippery-dipper-from-the-slime/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Ellipses," according to Henry, are "fucking excellent." The exclamation mark is just a weird guy who talks too loudly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-crowley/ellipses-according-to-henry-are-fucking-excellent-the-exclamation/) [Cath Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-crowley/) > [“For years, he’s been listening to her complain about being ignored by Justin and assuring it her it was simply a matter of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/for-years-he-s-been-listening-to-her-complain-about-being-ignored-by/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [“Though his classmates supposedly hailed form "all fifty states, Guam, and twenty-two foreign lands," as President Affenlight said in his convocation address, they all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/though-his-classmates-supposedly-hailed-form-all-fifty-states-guam/) [Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/) > [“Take it easy, friend," siad Peter, regaining his balance, quickly understanding the condition Henry was in. "Friend? You left us. In the caves." Henry's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-blakley-cartwright/take-it-easy-friend-siad-peter-regaining-his-balance-quickly/) [Sarah Blakley-Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-blakley-cartwright/) > [“My life is like an O Henry story…the funniest girl in the world and the boy who never laughs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/my-life-is-like-an-o-henry-story-the-funniest-girl-in-the-world-and/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I'm a huge 'Nightmare before Christmas' fan, but that was also Henry Selick. I'm a really big fan of 'Sleepy Hollow.' I love 'Big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-leth/i-m-a-huge-nightmare-before-christmas-fan-but-that-was-also-henry/) [Kate Leth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-leth/) > [“Henry keeps dealing. When all the cards have been separated, I pick up my stack and shuffle my cards again. Then I look up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kenneally/henry-keeps-dealing-when-all-the-cards-have-been-separated-i-pick-up/) [Miranda Kenneally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kenneally/) > [“As a precursor to this, he oversaw the 1536 Act of Succession, which excluded both Mary and Elizabeth from the royal succession in favor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/as-a-precursor-to-this-he-oversaw-the-1536-act-of-succession-which/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“Woods? Do you have a sec?" Ty asks. "Sure." "Alone?" Ty eyes Henry and Jerry Rice, and I jerk my head at Henry. "Fine,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kenneally/woods-do-you-have-a-sec-ty-asks-sure-alone-ty-eyes-henry-and-jerry/) [Miranda Kenneally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kenneally/) > [Mitch McConnell, 72, is second only to Henry Clay as the state'€™s most consequential public servant. McConnell's skills have been honed through five terms.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/mitch-mcconnell-72-is-second-only-to-henry-clay-as-the-state-s-most/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [“Dad will come back,' said Charlie quietly. When Mrs Bone turned to him, she didn't look sad at all, in fact she was smiling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-nimmo/dad-will-come-back-said-charlie-quietly-when-mrs-bone-turned-to-him/) [Jenny Nimmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-nimmo/) [Browse all 67 O henry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/o-henry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So Henry Adams, well aware that he could not succeed as a scholar, and finding his social position beyond improvement or need of effort, betook himself to the single ambition which otherwise would scarcely have seemed a true outcome of the college, though it was the last remnant of the old Unitarian supremacy. He took to the pen. He wrote.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/so-henry-adams-well-aware-that-he-could-not-succeed-as-a-scholar-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "O henry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/so-henry-adams-well-aware-that-he-could-not-succeed-as-a-scholar-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/904/henry-adams-1542_o-henry_so-henry-adams-well-aware-that-he-could_363420.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/904/henry-adams-1542_o-henry_so-henry-adams-well-aware-that-he-could_363420.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/904/henry-adams-1542_o-henry_so-henry-adams-well-aware-that-he-could_363420.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So Henry Adams, well aware that he could not succeed as a scholar, and finding his social position beyond…” — Henry Adams", "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": "Henry Adams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“So Henry Adams, well aware that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/so-henry-adams-well-aware-that-he-could-not-succeed-as-a-scholar-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/so-henry-adams-well-aware-that-he-could-not-succeed-as-a-scholar-and/#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 } } ] } ```