I've been reading "John Adams"

by David Mc Cullough. One quote in particular caught my eye. Abigail and John Adams are deciding, by letter on whether Adams should stand for Presidency. Abigail mentioned that Mr. Adams was already 60. The response was: "If I were near I would soon convince you that I am not above forty."

That line to his wife of 30 years would alone guarantee his character in my eyes, even if he did not do or write anything else in his life.