John Adams and the liberal arts

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I’ve long loved this quote from one of John Adams’ letters to his wife Abigail: 

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study

mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics

and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation,

commerce and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to

study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain. 

It’s usually shortened up some, to something like “I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, and their children study painting, poetry, music, and architecture.” I had not known before today that, since it’s in a handwritten letter, we know what he had second thoughts about. Even practical Adams wished he could skip straight to the arts.

I must study Politicks and War that my sons may have liberty to study Painting

and Poetry Mathematicks and Philosophy. My sons ought to study Mathematicks 

and Philosophy, Geography, natural History, Naval Architecture, navigation, Commerce and Agriculture, in order to give their Children a right to study

Painting, Poetry, Musick, Architecture, Statuary, Tapestry and Porcelaine.

The whole letter is not long, and worth a peek. 

The Massachusetts Historical Society has even graciously posted the original letter, in Adams’ ferocious handwriting.
 https://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/popup?id=L17800512jasecond&page=L17800512jasecond_1

https://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/popup?id=L17800512jasecond&page=L17800512jasecond_2

4/15/2018