John Adams to Abigail Adams, Paris, 1780

Since my arrival this time, I have driven about Paris more than I did before. The rural scenes around this town are charming. The public walks, gardens, etc., are extremely beautiful. The gardens of the Palais Royal and the gardens of the Tuileries are very fine. The Place de Louis XV., the Place Vendome or Place de Louis XIV., the Place Victoire, the Place Royale, are fine squares, ornamented with very magnificent statues. I wish I had time to describe these objects to you, in a manner that I should have done twenty-five years ago; but my head is too full of schemes, and my heart of anxiety, to use expressions borrowed from you know whom. To take a walk in the gardens of the palace of the Tuileries, and describe the statues there, all in marble, in which the ancient divinities and heroes are represented with exquisite art, would be a very pleasant amusement and instructive entertainment, improving in history, mythology, poetry, as well as in statuary. Another walk in the gardens of Versailles would be useful and agreeable. But to observe these objects with taste, and describe them so as to be understood, would require more time and thought than I can possibly spare. It is not indeed the fine arts which our country requires; the useful, the mechanic arts are those which we have occasion for in a young country as yet simple and not far advanced in luxury, although perhaps much too far for her age and character. I could fill volumes with descriptions of temples and palaces, paintings, sculptures, tapestry, porcelain, etc., etc., etc., if I could have time; but I could not do this without neglecting my duty. The science of government it is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take place of, indeed to exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain. Adieu.

这次来到这里以后，我在巴黎四处乘车游览，比以前多了。城郊的田园风光十分迷人。公共步道、花园等等都极其美丽。王宫花园和杜伊勒里花园都非常好。路易十五广场、旺多姆广场（也叫路易十四广场）、胜利广场、王家广场，都是很好的广场，装点着十分壮丽的雕像。我真希望有时间，像我二十五年前会做的那样，把这些景物描述给你；可是用你知道是谁的话来说，我的脑子里装满了计划，心里装满了焦虑。到杜伊勒里宫的花园里散步，描述那里的雕像——全是大理石的，以精湛的技艺表现古代的神祇和英雄——会是一种非常愉快的消遣和有益的娱乐，能增进历史、神话、诗歌以及雕塑方面的修养。到凡尔赛宫的花园里再走一走，也会既有益又愉快。可是，要有品味地观察这些东西，再描述得让人看懂，需要的时间和心思，是我无论如何也抽不出来的。我们国家需要的，其实并不是美术；在一个年轻的国家里，我们用得着的是实用的技艺、机械的技艺，这个国家还很朴素，远没有走到奢侈的地步，尽管就她的年纪和品性而言，也许已经走得太远了。如果有时间，我可以写满好几卷书，描述神庙和宫殿、绘画、雕塑、挂毯、瓷器等等等等；可是那样我就不能不荒废我的职责。研究治理之学，是我的职责，比研究其他一切学问都重要；立法、行政和谈判的技艺，应当排在、甚至在某种程度上排斥其他一切技艺之前。我必须研究政治和战争，好让我的儿子们有自由去研究数学和哲学。我的儿子们应当研究数学和哲学、地理、博物学和造船术、航海、商业和农业，好让他们的孩子有权利去研究绘画、诗歌、音乐、建筑、雕塑、挂毯和瓷器。再会。