Nothing Will Disturb Him Much

“The most fortunate of us, in our journey through life, frequently meet with calamities and misfortunes which may greatly afflict us; and, to fortify our minds against the attacks of these calamities and misfortunes, should be one of the principal studies and endeavours of our lives. The only method of doing this is to assume a perfect resignation to the Divine will, to consider that whatever does happen, must happen; and that by our uneasiness, we cannot prevent the blow before it does fall, but we may add to its force after it has fallen. These considerations, and others such as these, may enable us in some measure to surmount the difficulties thrown in our way; to bear up with a tolerable degree of patience under this burthen of life; and to proceed with a pious and unshaken resignation, till we arrive at our journey’s end, when we may deliver up our trust into the hands of him who gave it, and receive such reward as to him shall seem proportioned to our merit. Such, dear Page, will be the language of the man who considers his situation in this life, and such should be the language of every man who would wish to render that situation as easy as the nature of it will admit. Few things will disturb him at all: nothing will disturb him much.”

– Thomas Jefferson,
letter to John Page, July 1763

 

*Photo source

It Is History That Teaches Us To Hope

Drawing of Robert E. Lee by Paul Girardet, c. 1865 (source)

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A Future Recompense of Reward

Abigail Adams (source)

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Death of Ronald Reagan

(source)

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The Hope of a Happy Nation

George Washington’s signature (source)

“I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.”

– George Washington,
“Circular to the States”, 1783

 

 

The Sun is Dressed in Brightest Beams

Abigail Adams’ signature

“The Sun is dressed in Brightest Beams”
“To Give thy Honours to the Day.”

And may it prove an auspicious prelude to each ensuing Season. You have this day to declare Yourself Head of A Nation. And now O Lord my God thou hast made thy servant Ruler over the people, give unto him an understanding Heart, that he may know how to go out, and come in before this great people, that he may descern between good and bad, for who is able to judge this, thy so great people? Were the Words of a Royal Soverign, and not less applicable to him who is invested with the Chief Majestracy of a Nation, tho he wear not a Crown, or the Robes of Royalty.

My Thoughts, and my meditations are with you, tho personally absent, and my petitions to Heaven are that the things which make for Peace, may not be hiden from your Eyes. My feelings are not those of pride, or ostentation upon the occasion. They are solemnized by a sense of the obligations, the important Trusts and Numerous Duties connected with it, that you may be enabled to discharge them with Honour to yourself, with justice and impartiality to your Country, and with satisfaction to this great people shall be

The Daily prayer of your
A Adams

– Abigail Adams,
letter to John Adams as he accepted the nomination for President,
February 8th, 1797