The “president who wrote ‘Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it’” is John Adams , the 2nd president of the United States.

Who wrote “Posterity…”?

  • The quote is widely attributed to John Adams in his correspondence reflecting on the sacrifices of the Revolutionary generation and the burden they bore to secure American independence.
  • Crossword and trivia references that use the full clue “president who wrote ‘Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom…’” all give the answer as ADAMS , confirming the intended president is John Adams.

Why this quote matters

  • The word “posterity” here refers to future generations, meaning Adams was speaking directly to people who would live long after the Revolution, reminding them that their freedom was bought at a very high cost.
  • The closing line, “I hope you will make a good use of it,” is a moral nudge: Adams is urging future Americans not just to enjoy liberty, but to use it wisely and responsibly.

Quick Scoop style recap

  • President who wrote “Posterity…”: John Adams (2nd U.S. president).
  • Context: A reflective statement about the sacrifices of the Revolutionary generation and a warning to future Americans to cherish and use their freedom well.
  • Why it pops up now: The line appears often in quizzes, crosswords, and history blogs, especially around patriotic holidays and discussions about the founding era.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.