I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.

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, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.

— John Adams (second president of the USA under the current constitution, 1735 – 1826)

[In a letter to Abigail Adams, May 12, 1780]