“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
This topic has been extensively researched and documented by historians and scholars.
This powerful statement on the nature of truth comes from John Adams. He was a Founding Father and the second President of the United States. However, he did not deliver this line from a political podium. Instead, Adams spoke these words in a tense courtroom. He was defending British soldiers accused of murder. The quote’s origin reveals a deep commitment to justice over popular opinion. It underscores a principle that remains profoundly relevant today.
The Crucible of the Boston Massacre Trial
To understand the quote, we must travel back to 1770. Boston was a city simmering with resentment toward British rule. Tensions between colonists and British soldiers were extremely high. On March 5, this tension exploded into violence. A confrontation between a mob of colonists and a squad of British soldiers ended in bloodshed. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists. This event quickly became known as the Boston Massacre.
Public outrage was immediate and immense. Colonists demanded swift justice for the slain. Captain Thomas Preston and his eight soldiers faced murder charges. Finding a lawyer willing to defend them seemed impossible. The political risk was enormous. Defending the hated