Skip to content

Child Quote by John Adams

“Genius is sorrow's child.” quote by John Adams — Download Open image

“Genius is sorrow's child.”

About This Quote

Source Letter: Private Correspondence, 1799

Creative brilliance often emerges from deep sorrow.

In simple terms: Sorrow fuels genius.

Key Takeaway

Channel pain into art.

Themes

creativity emotions genius

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

writing
music composition
painting
personal growth

Key Concepts

melancholy artistic expression

Questions to Reflect On

What sorrow inspired your best work?
Can joy also spark genius?

A Different Perspective

Sorrow isn’t always productive.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3.0 out of 5 (3 ratings)

Child Children Genius Genius Sorrow Grief Intelligence Sorrow Sorrow Child

More by John Adams

Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…

Image

“Daughter! Get you an honest Man for a Husband, and keep him honest. No matter whether he is rich, provided he be independent. Regard…

Image

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity

Image

We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of…

Image

“The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to…

Image

But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The…

Image

“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…

Image

There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth: those with the commitment, and those who require the commitment of…

Image

I will insist the Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind…

Image

“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or…

Image

Make Things rather than Persons the subjects of conversations.

Image

During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together.

Image

Explore all 495 John Adams quotes

More Child quotes

The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…

Image

“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…

Image

“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…

Image

I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…

Image

I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…

Image

We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment

Image

I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.

Image

“Every child is born as angel.”

Lailah Gifty Akita

Image

To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.

Maria Montessori

Image

Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…

Image

Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.

Image

if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.

Johnnetta B. Cole

Image

Browse all 10,702 Child quotes