Values Quotes – John Quincy Adams on Truth
Today’s quote is from John Quincy Adams, the 6th president of the United States, who was in office from 1825 to 1829. And the only president who went back to serving as a congressional representative when he left office, for another 17 years!
An important quote from Adams was:
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
That’s an insightful statement about the value of truth, from a successful diplomat who was considered to be a moral leader in an era of modernization. To me, it provides hope for those involved in politics in our time.
As a differentiating value, truth means a fact that has been verified; conformity to reality or actuality; or accuracy.
While most of us may want to embrace the value of truth, it’s not so easy to preserve all the time. It can slip away faster than you expect.
When we encounter conflict or a disagreement, one of the first things someone will say is “Well, let’s look at the facts….” And according to Adams, “Facts are stubborn things” and the state of facts cannot be changed. So we go looking for them.
And the reason why?
Because when we possess the facts, when we know the truth, then we can move forward. And we can build momentum – that can change a country!
Today’s value was selected from the “Fairness-Respect” category, based on the e-book Developing Your Differentiating Values.
