Constitution Quote by John Adams
““When writing the constitution for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, John Adams wrote: I must judge for myself, but how can I judge, how can any man judge, unless his mind has been opened and enlarged by reading.””
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence of John Adams, 1780
Adams argues that reading expands the mind, enabling sound judgment.
In simple terms: Reading broadens thinking for better decisions.
Key Takeaway
Read widely to improve judgment.
Themes
education
critical thinking
self‑improvement
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- policy drafting
- personal growth
- public speaking
Key Concepts
cognitive development
informed decision‑making
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reading shape moral judgment?
- What other practices broaden the mind?
A Different Perspective
Reading alone doesn’t guarantee wisdom.
![“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/img-quotes/678/gordon-s-wood-13199_benefits_americans-john-adams-wrote-in-1780-belie_1953074.jpg)
![“This society [Jesuits] has been a greater calamity to mankind than the French Revolution, or Napoleon 's despotism or ideology. It has obstructed the progress of reformation and the improvement of the human mind in society much longer and more fatally. { Letter to Thomas Jefferson , November 4…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7b5/john-adams-529_calamity_this-society-jesuits-has-been-a-greater_2706641.jpg)
![“By the time [John Adams] came to write his Defence of the Constitutions of the United States in 1787 he had as dark a view of the American character as that of any critic in our history.” quote by Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d41/gordon-s-wood-13199_american-character_by-the-time-john-adams-came-to-write-his_314115.jpg)
![“I will insist the Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations. They are the most glorious nation…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e34/john-adams-529_affair_i-will-insist-the-hebrews-have-contribut_104004.jpg)
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
