--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Washington, Adams, and Jefferson…" description: "\"“As Washington, Adams, and Jefferson reached the cusp of adulthood, each exhibited a passion for independence. Each hungered for emancipation from the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/john-ferling-59467_freedom_as-washington-adams-and-jefferson-reache_1022670.jpg" --- # As Washington, Adams, and Jefferson reached the cusp of… ![“As Washington, Adams, and Jefferson reached the cusp of adulthood, each exhibited a passion for independence. Each hungered for emancipation from the entanglements of childhood and sought to carve out an autonomous existence. The handmaiden to each young man's zeal for self-mastery was a…” quote by John Ferling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/john-ferling-59467_freedom_as-washington-adams-and-jefferson-reache_1022670.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/john-ferling-59467_freedom_as-washington-adams-and-jefferson-reache_1022670.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/john-ferling-59467_freedom_as-washington-adams-and-jefferson-reache_1022670.jpg) > ““As Washington, Adams, and Jefferson reached the cusp of adulthood, each exhibited a passion for independence. Each hungered for emancipation from the entanglements of childhood and sought to carve out an autonomous existence. The handmaiden to each young man's zeal for self-mastery was a propulsive ambition that drove him to yearn for more than his father had attained, for more even than his father had ever hoped to achieve.”” [John Ferling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ferling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Young leaders sought personal freedom and self‑mastery, driven by ambition beyond their fathers’ achievements. **In simple terms:** Youth wanted independence and greater ambition than their fathers. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal ambition beyond family expectations. Themes independence ambition self‑mastery youth legacy Mood determined reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - entrepreneurship - political activism Key Concepts American Revolution psychology of leadership generational aspiration Questions to Reflect On - What personal ambitions drive you beyond family expectations? - How do you balance respect for tradition with the desire for independence? A Different Perspective Ambition can clash with family duties or societal norms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adams Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adams-jefferson-2289399/) [Adulthood Exhibited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adulthood-exhibited-2289397/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Independence Hungered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence-hungered-2289396/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Passion Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion-independence-2289398/) ## Related quotes > [“When my mother would tell me that she wanted me to have something because she as a child had never had it, I wanted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/when-my-mother-would-tell-me-that-she-wanted-me-to-have-something/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [Finding that financial independence away from a broken relationship is probably one of the most powerful places a woman can get to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-hadid/finding-that-financial-independence-away-from-a-broken-relationship/) [Yolanda Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-hadid/) > [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/) > [I've always been hopeful about Scotland's prospects. And I now believe more than ever that Scotland is within touching distance of achieving independence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-ve-always-been-hopeful-about-scotland-s-prospects-and-i-now-believe/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [We need a Supreme Court justice who will restore fairness, balance, and independence to the highest level of the judiciary. Based on his record,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-casey-jr/we-need-a-supreme-court-justice-who-will-restore-fairness-balance-and/) [Bob Casey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-casey-jr/) > [Even as people take pride in their national independence, we know we are becoming more and more interdependent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/even-as-people-take-pride-in-their-national-independence-we-know-we/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [We must learn to be self-reliant and independent of schools, courts, protection and patronage of a Government we seek to end, if it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/we-must-learn-to-be-self-reliant-and-independent-of-schools-courts/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I work hard, I make my own living and I love it. I like having financial independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/i-work-hard-i-make-my-own-living-and-i-love-it-i-like-having/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [The only issue cash presents you is the independence of not stressing about funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-only-issue-cash-presents-you-is-the-independence-of-not-stressing/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [America in the 1800s isn't quite the historical mystery hotbed as the same period in the country it bested in the War of Independence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weinman/america-in-the-1800s-isn-t-quite-the-historical-mystery-hotbed-as-the/) [Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weinman/) > [A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-great-step-towards-independence-is-a-good-humored-stomach-one-that/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Financial independence could be one of the factors, but most 65 plus artistes in our industry wish to continue working for the passion they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashok-saraf/financial-independence-could-be-one-of-the-factors-but-most-65-plus/) [Ashok Saraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashok-saraf/) > [The official independence celebration was going to be held over four or five days, and a group of journalists from all over the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/the-official-independence-celebration-was-going-to-be-held-over-four/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [“...the solitude was intoxicating. On my first night there I lay on my back on the sticky carpet for hours, in the murky orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/the-solitude-was-intoxicating-on-my-first-night-there-i-lay-on-my/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) ## More by John Ferling > [“Adams drew back. He wanted Hannah, but he did not live for her. Making a name for himself was more important. He told her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ferling/adams-drew-back-he-wanted-hannah-but-he-did-not-live-for-her-making-a/) [John Ferling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ferling/) > [“There are always those who wish to sanitize war by portraying its grand and noble deeds-which sometimes occur-while drawing a veil over its shameless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ferling/there-are-always-those-who-wish-to-sanitize-war-by-portraying-its/) [John Ferling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ferling/) > [“Gates should have exceeded Washington as a military leader. He had long experience in a professional army and was more loved by his men.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ferling/gates-should-have-exceeded-washington-as-a-military-leader-he-had/) [John Ferling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ferling/) > [“Fame had been democratized. 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I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As Washington, Adams, and Jefferson reached the cusp of adulthood, each exhibited a passion for independence. Each hungered for emancipation from the entanglements of childhood and sought to carve out an autonomous existence. 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