Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics — John Adams Copy Share Image
Happiness, whether in despotism or democracy, whether in slavery or liberty, can never be found without virtue — John Adams Copy Share Image
The study and practice of law ... does not dissolve the obligations of morality or of religion. — John Adams Copy Share Image
We have no Constitution which functions in the absence of a moral people — John Adams Copy Share Image
All sober inquirers after truth, ancient and modern, pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases. — John Adams Copy Share Image
“Knowledge in the head and virtue in the heart, time devoted to study or business, instead of show and pleasure, are the… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The people have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge - I… — John Adams Copy Share Image
As the happiness of the people is the sole end of government, so the consent of the people is the only foundation… — John Adams Copy Share Image
If the empire of superstition and hypocrisy should be overthrown, happy indeed will it be for the world; but if all religion… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Ambition is the subtlest beast of the intellectual and moral field. It is wonderfully adroit in concealing itself from its owner. — John Adams Copy Share Image
“All the perplexities, confusion, and distress in America arise, not from want of honor or virtue, but from the downright ignorance of… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Your Letters concerning Miss N. have given me as much Concern as they ought-not knowing the Character nor what to advise, but… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Liberty, according to my metaphysics, is an intellectual quality, an attribute that belongs not to fate nor chance. Neither possesses it, neither… — John Adams Copy Share Image
It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and… — John Adams Copy Share Image
“It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. The… — John Adams Copy Share Image
We should begin by setting conscience free. When all men of all religions shall enjoy equal liberty, property, and an equal chance… — John Adams Copy Share Image
As the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself… — John Adams Copy Share Image
We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or… — John Adams Copy Share Image
“Now to what higher object, to what greater character, can any mortal aspire than to be possessed of all this knowledge, well… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The good of the governed is the end, and rewards and punishments are the means, of all government. The government of the… — John Adams Copy Share Image
“Wisdom and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among the body of the people being necessary for the preservation of their… — John Adams Copy Share Image
“Human nature with all its infirmities and deprivation is still capable of great things. It is capable of attaining to degrees of… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The arts and sciences, in general, during the three or four last centuries, have had a regular course of progressive improvement. The… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree, that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all divines and… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Wisdom and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among the body of the people being necessary for the preservation of their… — John Adams Copy Share Image
In vain are Schools, Academies, and Universities instituted, if loose Principles and licentious habits are impressed upon Children in their earliest years… — John Adams Copy Share Image
[D]emocracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The government of the United States of America has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Popularity, next to virtue and wisdom, ought to be aimed at; for it is the dictate of wisdom, and is necessary to… — John Adams Copy Share Image
[J]udges, therefore, should be always men of learning and experience in the laws, of exemplary morals, great patience, calmness, coolness, and attention.… — John Adams Copy Share Image
A constitution founded on these principles introduces knowledge among the people, and inspires them with a conscious dignity becoming freemen; a general… — John Adams Copy Share Image
And liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people who have a right from the frame of their nature… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and… — John Adams Copy Share
“Daughter! Get you an honest Man for a Husband, and keep him honest. No matter whether he is rich, provided he be independent. Regard… — John Adams Copy Share
The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity — John Adams Copy Share
We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of… — John Adams Copy Share
“The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to… — John Adams Copy Share
But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The… — John Adams Copy Share
“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage… — John Adams Copy Share
There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth: those with the commitment, and those who require the commitment of… — John Adams Copy Share
I will insist the Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind… — John Adams Copy Share
“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or… — John Adams Copy Share
During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together. — John Adams Copy Share
Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in… — John Adams Copy Share
I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service. — John Adams Copy Share
![“As the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen [Muslims] ... it is declared ... that no pretext arising from religious opinion shall ever product an…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/844/john-adams-529_atheist_as-the-government-of-the-united-states-i_1282949.jpg)
![“[D]emocracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes and no man's life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one of these will soon mould itself into a system of subordination of all the moral virtues and…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/ac9/john-adams-529_ability_d-emocracy-will-soon-degenerate-into-an_1146087.jpg)
![“[J]udges, therefore, should be always men of learning and experience in the laws, of exemplary morals, great patience, calmness, coolness, and attention. Their minds should not be distracted with jarring interests; they should not be dependent upon any man, or body of men.” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/476/john-adams-529_attention_j-udges-therefore-should-be-always-men-o_1654364.jpg)
