Who said “Think of your forefathers! Think of your posterity.”?

Misattributed

Not John Adams. It's commonly credited to them, but the evidence shows it isn't theirs.

What the research foundListed as misattributed to John Adams; no source in their known works.

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“Think of your forefathers! Think of your posterity.”
— John Adams
MisattributedListed as misattributed to John Adams; no source in their known works. · evidencePast
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Cite this quote

APA

“Think of your forefathers! Think of your posterity.” [Quotation attributed to John Adams]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/31857-think-of-your-forefathers-think-of-your-posterity/

MLA

“Think of your forefathers! Think of your posterity.” Attributed to John Adams. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/31857-think-of-your-forefathers-think-of-your-posterity/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“Think of your forefathers! Think of your posterity.” Attributed to John Adams. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/31857-think-of-your-forefathers-think-of-your-posterity/.

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All 24 John Adams quotes →