“I can treat all with decency and civility, and converse with them, when it is necessary, on points of business. But I am never happy in their company.”

—  John Adams

As quoted in Complete Book of U.S. Presidents (1984), by William A. DeGregorio, pp. 19–20

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "I can treat all with decency and civility, and converse with them, when it is necessary, on points of business. But I a…" by John Adams?
John Adams photo
John Adams 202
2nd President of the United States 1735–1826

Related quotes

Paul McCartney photo
John Locke photo

“The Indians, whom we call barbarous, observe much more decency and civility in their discourses and conversation”

Sec. 145
Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1693)
Context: The Indians, whom we call barbarous, observe much more decency and civility in their discourses and conversation, giving one another a fair silent hearing till they have quite done; and then answering them calmly, and without noise or passion. And if it be not so in this civiliz'd part of the world, we must impute it to a neglect in education, which has not yet reform'd this antient piece of barbarity amongst us.

Nathanael Greene photo
Ronald Reagan photo

“I favor the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and it must be enforced at the point of a bayonet, if necessary.”

Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American politician, 40th president of the United States (in office from 1981 to 1989)

As quoted in The Los Angeles Times (20 October 1965)
1960s

John Hodgman photo

“I’m gay. I just didn’t think it was anybody’s business … All I wanted was to be straight so my parents could be happy. They never, never, never knew.”

Maurice Sendak (1928–2012) American illustrator and writer of children's books

As quoted in "Concerns Beyond Just Where the Wild Things Are" by Patricia Cohen in The New York Times (9 September 2008)

William Shakespeare photo
Reggie Yates photo

“It’s never an interview, it’s a conversation, researched to a point, but I can still be surprised in the moment. I feel confident in saying that if I sat down with George Clooney, I could get him to say something he’d never said before.”

Reggie Yates (1983) English actor, television presenter and radio DJ

On his confidence after launching two documentary series in “Reggie Yates: ‘I could get George Clooney to say stuff he’d never said before’” https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/oct/19/reggie-yates-documentary-maker-interview-i-could-get-george-clooney-to-say-stuff in The Guardian (2019 Oct 19)

William Hazlitt photo

“One of the pleasantest things in the world is going a journey; but I like to do it myself. I can enjoy society in a room; but out of doors, nature is company enough for me. I am then never less alone than when alone.”

William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English writer

"On Going on a Journey"
Table Talk: Essays On Men And Manners http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Essays/TableHazIV.htm (1821-1822)

William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme photo

Related topics