Excellent 18th century philosophy and prose which other references have condensed and updated to a 21st century bumper sticker philosophy (which I prefer to the original) Other web sites report the quote as when John Adams was away at the war front doing business, his wife Abigail wrote him and asked: "What should we tell our neighbors? Why are we doing this?" And John wrote her back that famous letter: "You tell them that we study war, so that our children can study business, law, commerce and invention, so that their children can study art, and poetry and music." I am not sure what war front they were referring to in 1780. Also, I recall hearing it attributed to someone else. (I wish I had said that -- don't worry, you will)