{John} Adams acknowledged that he had made himself obnoxious to many of his colleagues, who regarded him as a one-man bonfire of the vanities. This never troubled Adams, who in his more contrarian moods claimed that his unpopularity provided clinching evidence that his position was principled, because it was obvious that he was not courting popular opinion. His alienation, therefore, was a measure of his integrity.
John Adams was well aware that his forthright nature made him unpopular among many of his peers, who often viewed him as overly self-righteous or arrogant. Despite this, Adams remained unbothered by his reputation, and instead, he saw it as a validation of his principled stance. He believed that his unpopularity indicated a commitment to his beliefs rather than a desire for public approval.
Thus, Adams considered his position as a testament to his integrity, feeling that his disconnect from popular sentiment only reinforced his moral conviction. He took pride in the idea that standing firm in his beliefs could cost him favor, viewing this alienation as a mark of true character during the tumultuous times leading to American independence.