In his letter to Thomas Jefferson on September 15, 1814, John Adams provides a skeptical yet thoughtful response to Jefferson’s views on progress, governance, and religion. While Jefferson believes history follows an arc of improvement, Adams sees human nature as cyclical, repeating its past mistakes. He emphasizes that government must reflect human ambition and warns that theological belief will persist regardless of reason’s influence. Despite their differences, Adams reaffirms their shared commitment to liberty and knowledge. Their correspondence remains a powerful testament to intellectual friendship, offering a nuanced debate on the challenges of governance and the evolution of society.
