The Education of our Children is never out of my Mind. Train them to Virtue habituate them to industry, activity, and Spirit. Make them consider every Vice, as shamefull and unmanly: fire them with Ambition to be usefull--make them disdain to be destitute of any usefull, or ornamental Knowledge or Accomplishment. Fix their Ambition upon great and solid Objects--and their Contempt upon little, frivolous, and useless ones.
— Letter to Abigail Adams - Prince Town New Jersey [August 28th, 1774]