John Adams on Public Life

If you're looking for an inspiring read on American patriotism, leadership, and politics, might I recommend John Adams by David McCullough. As at lot of you who know me have heard by now, I found it to be a life changing book, the likes of which you don't come across very often.

Below is a quote from the book, where John Adams speaks on Public Life:

"When his son Thomas wrote, expressing an interest in public life, Adams felt he was answering for generations of their line:

Public business, my son, must always be done by somebody. It will be done by somebody or other. If wise men decline it, others will not; if honest men refuse it, others will not. A young man should weigh well his plans. Integrity should be preserved in all events, as essential to his happiness, through every stage of his existence. His first maxim should be to place his honor out of reach of all men. In order to do this he must make it a rule never to become dependent on public employments for subsistence. Let him have a trade, a profession, a farm, a shop, something where he can honestly live, and then he may engage in public affairs, if invited, upon independent principles. My advice to my children is to maintain an independent character."