--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Borrowed eloquence, if it contains as…" description: "\"Borrowed eloquence, if it contains as good stuff, is as good as own eloquence\" — John Adams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/john-adams-529_borrowed_borrowed-eloquence-if-it-contains-as-goo_896878.jpg" --- # Borrowed eloquence, if it contains as good stuff, is as… ![“Borrowed eloquence, if it contains as good stuff, is as good as own eloquence” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/john-adams-529_borrowed_borrowed-eloquence-if-it-contains-as-goo_896878.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/john-adams-529_borrowed_borrowed-eloquence-if-it-contains-as-goo_896878.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/john-adams-529_borrowed_borrowed-eloquence-if-it-contains-as-goo_896878.jpg) > “Borrowed eloquence, if it contains as good stuff, is as good as own eloquence” [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Borrowed eloquence is valuable if its content is good, equating it to one's own speech. **In simple terms:** Good ideas matter more than who originally said them. Key Takeaway Focus on the quality of ideas, not their source. Themes communication integrity authenticity Mood thoughtful analytical Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - writing - debate - teaching Key Concepts rhetoric intellectual honesty Questions to Reflect On - When should you credit the original source? - Does borrowed eloquence ever diminish credibility? A Different Perspective Originality may still be prized in some contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Borrowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrowed/) [Borrowed Eloquence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrowed-eloquence-1203585/) [Borrowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrowing/) [Contains Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contains-good-1203588/) [Eloquence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eloquence/) [Eloquence Contains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eloquence-contains-1203586/) [Good Eloquence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-eloquence-1203587/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) ## Related quotes > [My mind contains many good ideas, but it's not always easy to squeeze one out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/my-mind-contains-many-good-ideas-but-it-s-not-always-easy-to-squeeze/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [In truth, money is not created until the instant it is borrowed. It is the act of borrowing which causes it to spring into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/in-truth-money-is-not-created-until-the-instant-it-is-borrowed-it-is/) [G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/) > [I've seen more people fail because of liquor and leverage -- leverage being borrowed money. You really don't need leverage in this world much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-ve-seen-more-people-fail-because-of-liquor-and-leverage-leverage/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Borrowed garments never fit well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/borrowed-garments-never-fit-well/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [The problem is that borrowing money to pay back more borrowed money that will oblige you in the future to borrow even more money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/the-problem-is-that-borrowing-money-to-pay-back-more-borrowed-money/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [The old-fashioned idea is that responsibility falls upon those who borrow and lend. Money was not borrowed by campesinos, assembly plant workers, or slum-dwellers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-old-fashioned-idea-is-that-responsibility-falls-upon-those-who/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I borrowed my friends car the other day in an attempt to persuade my husband that we needed a car and literally this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/i-borrowed-my-friends-car-the-other-day-in-an-attempt-to-persuade-my/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) > [To forget, or pretend to do so, to return a borrowed article, is the meanest sort of petty theft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/to-forget-or-pretend-to-do-so-to-return-a-borrowed-article-is-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You really don't need leverage in this world much. If you're smart, you're going to make a lot of money without borrowing. I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/you-really-don-t-need-leverage-in-this-world-much-if-you-re-smart-you/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [People say I talk slowly. I talk in a way sometimes called laconic. The phone rings, I answer, and people ask if they've woken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/people-say-i-talk-slowly-i-talk-in-a-way-sometimes-called-laconic-the/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [One of the effects of religions getting together is that they borrow from one another. An example is the growing number of Catholics who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/one-of-the-effects-of-religions-getting-together-is-that-they-borrow/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [It is better to return a borrowed pot with a little something you last cooked in it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/native-american-proverb/it-is-better-to-return-a-borrowed-pot-with-a-little-something-you/) [Native American Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/native-american-proverb/) > [There is a big problem. The problem is the country borrowed too much. We went on a borrowing binge, there was a housing boom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/there-is-a-big-problem-the-problem-is-the-country-borrowed-too-much/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) ## 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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Daughter! Get you an honest Man for a Husband, and keep him honest. No matter whether he is rich, provided he be independent. Regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/daughter-get-you-an-honest-man-for-a-husband-and-keep-him-honest-no/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-general-principles-on-which-the-fathers-achieved-independence/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-may-affirm-that-the-balance-of-power-in-a-society-accompanies-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-longer-i-live-the-more-i-read-the-more-patiently-i-think-and-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/but-what-do-we-mean-by-the-american-revolution-do-we-mean-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth: those with the commitment, and those who require the commitment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-are-only-two-creatures-of-value-on-the-face-of-the-earth-those/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [ I will insist the Hebrews have \[contributed\] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-will-insist-the-hebrews-have-contributed-more-to-civilize-men-than/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Make Things rather than Persons the subjects of conversations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/make-things-rather-than-persons-the-subjects-of-conversations/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/during-the-whole-time-i-sat-with-him-in-congress-i-never-heard-him/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundations-not-of-republicanism-and/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The universal object and idol of men of letters is reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-universal-object-and-idol-of-men-of-letters-is-reputation/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-consider-a-decent-respect-for-christianity-among-the-best/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Explore all 495 John Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) ## More Borrowed quotes > [I love awards, especially if I get them. It's up to the courage of the filmmakers to make art in cinema, not just business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gazzara/i-love-awards-especially-if-i-get-them-it-s-up-to-the-courage-of-the/) [Ben Gazzara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gazzara/) > [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [The combination of such characters, some, as the sacral ones, altogether peculiar among Reptiles, others borrowed, as it were, from groups now distinct from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-owen/the-combination-of-such-characters-some-as-the-sacral-ones-altogether/) [Richard Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-owen/) > [I'm no innovator. If anything I'm a stealer, or borrower. I've stolen or borrowed from more people than you can shake a stick at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/i-m-no-innovator-if-anything-i-m-a-stealer-or-borrower-i-ve-stolen-or/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [Any sizeable Portuguese town looks like a superstitious bride's finery - something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/any-sizeable-portuguese-town-looks-like-a-superstitious-bride-s/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [“I came to this world with nothing, and I leave with nothing but love, everything else is just borrowed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-streets/i-came-to-this-world-with-nothing-and-i-leave-with-nothing-but-love/) [The Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-streets/) > [Investors, of course, can, by their own behavior make stock ownership highly risky. And many do. Active trading, attempts to "time" market movements, inadequate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/investors-of-course-can-by-their-own-behavior-make-stock-ownership/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I'm so sick of mermaid dresses, trains, borrowed bling-bling, and a pose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-leon-talley/i-m-so-sick-of-mermaid-dresses-trains-borrowed-bling-bling-and-a-pose/) [Andre Leon Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-leon-talley/) > [There is a word Kristos in the Greek dictionary, and this word is supposed to be borrowed from the Sanskrit word "Krishna," and Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/there-is-a-word-kristos-in-the-greek-dictionary-and-this-word-is/) [A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/) > [In 1981, I borrowed 2,000 pounds - a lot of money back then - paid 50 quid for a seat, packed my own sandwich,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/in-1981-i-borrowed-2-000-pounds-a-lot-of-money-back-then-paid-50-quid/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [I think when Tom Ford was there I borrowed a Gucci tux one time, and they were very nice and he was very kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-leto/i-think-when-tom-ford-was-there-i-borrowed-a-gucci-tux-one-time-and/) [Jared Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-leto/) > [There is a big problem. The problem is the country borrowed too much. We went on a borrowing binge, there was a housing boom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/there-is-a-big-problem-the-problem-is-the-country-borrowed-too-much/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [I toyed with making portraits based on people's discarded shopping lists found on the street, or old diaries bought on eBay, or other forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-blackall/i-toyed-with-making-portraits-based-on-people-s-discarded-shopping/) [Sophie Blackall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-blackall/) > [There are instances where lines in my work are borrowed or stolen from sources, mainly from books, or they become my own versions. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-pettibon/there-are-instances-where-lines-in-my-work-are-borrowed-or-stolen/) [Raymond Pettibon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-pettibon/) > [True beauty lives on high. Ours is but a flame borrowed thence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/true-beauty-lives-on-high-ours-is-but-a-flame-borrowed-thence/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) [Browse all 343 Borrowed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrowed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Borrowed eloquence, if it contains as good stuff, is as good as own eloquence", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/borrowed-eloquence-if-it-contains-as-good-stuff-is-as-good-as-own/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Borrowed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/borrowed-eloquence-if-it-contains-as-good-stuff-is-as-good-as-own/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/john-adams-529_borrowed_borrowed-eloquence-if-it-contains-as-goo_896878.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/john-adams-529_borrowed_borrowed-eloquence-if-it-contains-as-goo_896878.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/john-adams-529_borrowed_borrowed-eloquence-if-it-contains-as-goo_896878.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Borrowed eloquence, if it contains as good stuff, is as good as own eloquence” — John 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": "John Adams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Borrowed eloquence, if it contains as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/borrowed-eloquence-if-it-contains-as-good-stuff-is-as-good-as-own/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/borrowed-eloquence-if-it-contains-as-good-stuff-is-as-good-as-own/#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 } } ] } ```