Let's Have Beautiful and Practical

 From a letter that John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail on May 12, 1780:

I must study Politicks and War that my sons may have liberty to study Painting and Poetry Mathematicks and Philosophy. My sons ought to study Mathematicks and Philosophy, Geography, natural History, Naval Architecture, navigation, Commerce and Agriculture, in order to give their Children a right to study Painting, Poetry, Musick, Architecture, Statuary, Tapestry and Porcelaine.

Ah, if only the world were so nice!

The fact is, as the people of Ukraine and Israel can tell us, the world is not that nice. There are barbarians out there who would like nothing more than to take over a nation of artists.

I have no doubt that John Adams knew that. He was a very intelligent leader of a successful and bloody revolution.

The secret then and now, of course, is not to avoid dreams, but to know when you are dreaming.