Who said “A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved, and admired by his…”?

Verified

John Adams. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"Discourses on Davila: A Series of Papers on Political History," No. 4 Gazette of the United States (1790–1791)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z
“A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved, and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man.”
— John Adams
Verified"Discourses on Davila: A Series of Papers on Political History," No. 4 Gazette of the United States (1790–1791) · evidenceDesire

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "Discourses on Davila: A Series of Papers on Political History," No. 4 Gazette of the United States (1790–1791).

APA

Adams, J. (n.d.). A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved, and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/13239-a-desire-to-be-observed-considered-esteemed-praised/

MLA

Adams, John. “A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved, and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/13239-a-desire-to-be-observed-considered-esteemed-praised/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Adams, John. “A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved, and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/13239-a-desire-to-be-observed-considered-esteemed-praised/.

Related quotes

More quotes by John Adams

“Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak.”
VerifiedLetter to Thomas Jefferson (2 February 1816) · evidenceDetails & citePower
“Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.”
VerifiedLetter to J.H. Tiffany (31 March 1819) · evidenceDetails & citeWords
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
VerifiedLetter to the Officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts, 11 October 1798, in Revolutionary Services and Civil Life of General William Hull (New York, 1848), pp 265-6. · evidenceDetails & citeFreedom
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.”
VerifiedLetters to John Taylor (1814) · evidenceDetails & citeDemocracy
All 24 John Adams quotes →