Quote of the day: "I must study politics and war..."

John Adams is famous for saying that he had to study gritty subjects so that his children would have the opportunity to learn culture and arts. Here is the complete quote:

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 the place of, indeed exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our 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.

I think this perspective is often lost on many parents. Some parents expect that since they worked hard and sacrificed, their children are responsible for perpetuating the family reputation and its economic status by becoming doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, etc. It is true that a parent's primary role is to provide for the children. But I hope that more parents will have the courage to trust their children and love them for who they are, rather than their efficiency in fulfilling their parent's wishes.

Our opportunities to study mathematics and philosophy are what separate us from rest of the animal kingdom. I'm not saying that if you're dumb, you should try to become a mathematician. But if that is your talent and desire, mathematics is no less noble and worthy than medicine or politics.