He never labored so hard to learn a language as he did to hold his tongue, and it affected him for life. The habit of reticence — of talking without meaning — is never effaced.

— Henry Adams

He supposed that, except musicians, every one thought Beethoven a bore, as every one except mathematicians thought mathematics a bore.

— Henry Adams

He, too, serves a certain purpose who only stands and cheers.

— Henry Adams

It is impossible to underrate human intelligence - beginning with one's own.

— Henry Adams

I, too, like yourself was a good party man: my party was that of the Church; I was ultramontane. Your party system is one of your thefts from our Church; your National Convention is our Economic Council; you abdicate reason, as we do, before its decisions; and you yourself Mr. Ratcliffe, you are a Cardinal.

— Henry Adams

Knowledge of human nature is the beginning and end of political education.

— Henry Adams

Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed. The imagination must be given not wings but weights.

— Henry Adams

No man likes to have his intelligence or good faith questioned, especially if he has doubts about it himself.

— Henry Adams

No man means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.

— Henry Adams

No one means all he says and yet very few say all they mean.

— Henry Adams