May 28, 2023 | Issue #70

1 Quote. 1 Reflection. 1 Question.

1 Quote.

“If conscience disapproves, the loudest applauses of the world are of little value."

 -From: John Adams

-Source: John Adams to Charles Cushing, April 3, 1756

1 Reflection.

John Adams is one of the Founding Fathers and the second President of the United States. This quote comes from a letter written by John Adams to his law school classmate, Charles Cushing. In the letter, he thanks Charles Cushing for some advice he gave him and talks about the importance of character and service to the greater good of society. 

When I came across this quote, I thought about how there are tons of people who will go for fame and glory at any cost. 

Joe Jackson, the father of famous singer Michael Jackson was a person who did just that.

According to the King of Pop's former doctor, Conrad Murray,
 Michael Jackson was chemically castrated as a child by his father. The goal of the castration was so the young superstar could maintain his high-pitched voice. 

Michael Jackson opened up about his difficult upbringing with his father in the 2003 documentary Living With Michael Jackson. "It was more than just a belt—cords, whatever was around," the singer remembered. "[He'd] throw you up against the wall as hard as you could. He would lose his temper. … I was so fast, he couldn't catch me half the time. But when he would catch me? It was bad. It was really bad."

Did his father's tactics work? If we look externally at Michael's career one would say yes. He got fame, and recognition, and is cemented in music history. But, as many of us know his life spiraled out of control after his prime. 

When making his will, Michael left his father out of it, probably because of everything he went through.

After Michael's death, Joe Jackson attempted to challenge the will but it failed. “Joe Jackson takes none of this estate,” Judge Mitchell Beckloff declared in 2009. “This is a decision his son made.”


According to a Jackson family insider, on his deathbed, Joe Jackson said he "let Michael down." There is some speculation if he actually said that, so we will never know if those words were spoken or not. 

Regardless, this story serves as an important reminder. Your conscience will always drown out the applause coming from the rest of the world. 

1 Question.

Is there a behavior or action eating at your conscience?