John Adams to Abigail Adams, December 18, 1780

Amsterdam Decr. 18. 1780

My dearest Portia

I have this morning sent Mr. Thaxter, with my two Sons to Leyden, there to take up their
Residence for some time, and there to pursue their Studies of Latin and Greek under the
excellent Masters, and there to attend Lectures of the celebrated
Professors in that University. It is much cheaper there than here: the Air is infinitely
purer; and the Company and Conversation is better.

It is perhaps as learned an University as any in Europe.

I should not wish to have Children, educated in the common Schools in this Country, where a
littleness of Soul is notorious. The Masters are mean Spirited Writches, pinching, kicking,
and boxing the Children, upon every Turn. 1

Their is besides a general Littleness arising from the incessant Contemplation of Stivers
and Doits, which pervades the whole People.

Frugality and Industry are virtues every where, but Avarice, and Stingyness are not
Frugality.

The Dutch say that without an habit of thinking of every doit, before you spend it, no Man
can be a good Merchant, or conduct Trade with Success. This I believe is a just Maxim in
general. But I would never wish to see a Son of Mine govern himself by it. It is the sure and
certain Way for an industrious Man to be rich. It is the only possible Way for a Merchant to
become the first Merchant, or the richest Man in the Place. But this is an Object that I hope
none of my Children will ever aim at.

It is indeed true, every where, that those who attend to small Expences are always rich.

I would have my Children attend to Doits and Farthings as devoutly as the meerest Dutchman
upon Earth, if such Attention was necessary to support their Independence.

A Man who discovers a Disposition and a design to be independent seldom succeeds—a Jealousy
arises against him. The Tyrants are alarmed on one side least he should oppose them. The
slaves are allarmed on the other least he should expose their Servility. The Cry from all
Quarters is, “He is the proudest Man in the World. He cant bear to be under Obligation.”

I never in my Life observed any one endeavouring to lay me under particular Obligations to
him, but I suspected he had a design to make me his dependant, and to have claims upon my
Gratitude. This I should have no objection to—Because Gratitude is always in ones Power. But
the Danger is that Men will expect and require more of Us, than Honour and Innocence and
Rectitude will permit Us to perform.

In our Country however any Man with common Industry and Prudence may be independant.

But to put an End to this stuff Adieu, most affectionately Adieu.