“Reunion”
In this episode: Thomas Jefferson (3), Abigail Adams (2), John Adams (1)
Well, I have been in France for such a short time. It would be unfair to pass sentence or form judgement.
Which implies that you've already done both.
Well, if I had, Mr. Jefferson, I would only offer them after my further experience had shown my wisdom or the error of my ways.
An admirable caution.
Yes, and highly uncharacteristic, I assure you.
Paris is unique.
Yes, and best enjoyed in the company of women.
Women would add interest to many things, Mr. Jefferson, if men would allow it.
Well, that has been my experience, Ms. Adams.
I've resolved to renounce embarrassment in favor of enjoyment
The English love an insult. It's their only test of a man's sincerity.
Benjamin Franklin: There is talk of a convention in Philadelphia. They are to discuss a binding constitution. I hope to attend if only to have an effect on the style of its prose.
Thomas Jefferson: I expect that any constitutional document that emerges from Philadelphia will be as compromised as our Declaration of Independency. I am increasingly persuaded that the Earth belongs exclusively to the living and that one generation has no more right to bind another to its laws and judgments than one independent nation has the right to command another.
John Adams: But surely the Constitution, as it did with the ones we wrote for our own states, is meant to establish the stability and the long-term legality essential to the continuation of a civilized society.
Thomas Jefferson: Yes, possibly. But I fear it could prove a breach in the integrity of our revolutionary ideals through which will pour the forces of reaction.
John Adams: [to Franklin] Doctor, Mr. Jefferson's pet topic is not the artful arrangement of political power but the cordoning off of a space in which no power exists at all. [to Jefferson] You, sir, you are a walking contradiction.
Benjamin Franklin: We're all contradictions, Mr. Adams.
John Adams: Indeed yes. And what is government ultimately but the putting into effect of the lessons which we have learned in dealing with the contradictions in our own characters?
It is no small thing to build a new world, gentlemen. We have our republic. We must endeavour to keep it if we can.
[King George III receives John Adams at the Court of St. James, the first time the King has met with an emissary from the United States]
John Adams: The United States of America... The United States of America have appointed me minister plenipotentiary to Your Majesty. I think myself more fortunate than all of my fellow citizens in having the distinguishing honor of being the first to stand in Your Majesty's presence in a diplomatic character. I shall esteem myself the happiest of men if I can be instrumental in restoring the confidence and affection, or, in better words, the good old nature and the good old humour between peoples who, though separated by an ocean and under different governments, have the same language, the same religion, and kindred blood. I beg Your Majesty's permission to add that though I have been before entrusted by my country, it was never in my whole life in a manner more agreeable to myself.
King George III: The circumstances of this audience are so extraordinary, the language you have held is so extremely proper, and the feelings you have discovered so justly adapted to the occasion that I not only receive with pleasure the assurance of the friendly disposition of the United States, but I am very glad that the choice has fallen on you to be their minister. I will be very frank with you. I was the last to consent to separation. But the separation having been made and having become inevitable, I have always said, as I say now, that I would be the first to meet the friendship of the United States as an independent power.
John Adams: Thank you, Your Majesty.
King George III: There is an opinion among some people, Mr. Adams, that you are not the most attached of all your countrymen to the manners of France.
John Adams: [suppresses laughter] Yes, well, I avow to Your Majesty that I have no attachment to any country but my own.
King George III: An honest man will never have any other.
John Adams: Here's a fine culmination to all my years of service. Fewer than half the votes of the Electoral College. General Washington is unanimously acclaimed president with 69 votes, whereas I apparently am scorned by all but 34 of the electors.
Abigail Adams: John, there are two, four, six, eight, ten other names here. You have more votes than all of them put together. And John Jay comes in third with nine.
John Adams: Nonetheless, I consider ... I consider such a showing a stain upon my character.
Abigail Adams: John!
John Adams: I will not and I cannot accept it.
Abigail Adams: John, you are vice president now.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's John Adams pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
