When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.
Adams was confounded by Jefferson’s renown. How it seemed to come to him naturally, almost easily. Whereas if you were to ask Adams, he, Adams, deserved at least as much renown, or greater. But always had that nagging feeling that however much he worked hard to achieve it, and, objectively speaking, basically deserved it, he wasn’t getting it, and might never get it.
So, as the kids say these days, this, the reported utterance by Adams on his deathbed, “tracks”!