The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries. — John Adams Copy Share Image
[I] never understood [what a republican government was and] I believe no other man ever did or ever will. — John Adams Copy Share Image
The government of the United States is not in any sense founded upon the Christian religion. — John Adams Copy Share Image
“A Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” — John Adams Copy Share Image
Mr. Jefferson has reason to reflect upon himself. How he will get rid of his remorse in his retirement, I know not.… — John Adams Copy Share Image
A question arises whether all the powers of government, legislative, executive, and judicial, shall be left in this body? I think a… — John Adams Copy Share Image
There is nothing I dread so much as the division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader,… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Public business must always be done by somebody. It will be done by somebody or other. If wise man decline, others will… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Fear is the foundation of most governments; but it is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men in whose breasts… — John Adams Copy Share Image
“Government has no right to hurt a hair on the head of an Atheist for his Opinions. Let him have a care… — John Adams Copy Share Image
“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit,… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Government is nothing more than the combined force of society, or the united power of the multitude, for the peace, order, safety,… — 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
Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a… — John Adams Copy Share Image
“Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom. Aristotle speaks plainly to this purpose, saying, 'that the institution of… — John Adams Copy Share Image
To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The most sensible and jealous people are so little attentive to government that there are no instances of resistance until repeated, multiplied… — John Adams Copy Share Image
...Cities may be rebuilt, and a People reduced to Poverty, may acquire fresh Property: But a Constitution of Government once changed from… — 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
[A] republic . . . [is] a government, in which the property of the public, or people, and of every one of… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The executive shall never exercise the legislative and judicial powers, or either of them, to the end that it may be a… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Human government is more or less perfect as it approaches nearer or diverges farther from the imitation of this perfect plan of… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The form of government which communicates ease, comfort, security, or, in one word, happiness, to the greatest number of persons, and in… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The furnace of affliction produces refinement in states as well as individuals. And the new Governments we are assuming in every part… — John Adams Copy Share Image
It is an observation of one of the profoundest inquirers into human affairs that a revolution of government is the strongest proof… — John Adams Copy Share Image
[You have Rights] antecedent to all earthly governments: Rights, that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws; Rights, derived from the… — John Adams Copy Share Image
While all other sciences have advanced, that of government is at a standstill - little better understood, little better practiced now than… — 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
Honor is truly sacred, but holds a lower rank in the scale of moral excellence than virtue. Indeed the former is part… — John Adams Copy Share Image
It is much easier to pull down a government, in such a conjuncture of affairs as we have seen, than to build… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The real fabric of American society is not all those flags you see on people's cars...it's in the Bill of Rights and… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great… — John Adams Copy Share Image
If the multitude is possessed of the balance of real estate, the multitude will have the balance of power, and in that… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature. . .… — John Adams Copy Share Image
There is no good government but what is republican. That the only valuable part of the British constitution is so; for the… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The Holy Ghost carries on the whole Christian system in this earth. Not a Baptism, not a Marriage, not a Sacrament can… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Were I to define the British constitution, therefore, I should say, it is a limited monarchy, or a mixture of the three… — John Adams Copy Share Image
We may please ourselves with the prospect of free and popular governments. But there is great danger that those governments will not… — John Adams Copy Share Image
. . . Thirteen governments [of the original states] thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence… — 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
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
![“[I] never understood [what a republican government was and] I believe no other man ever did or ever will.” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/d5c/john-adams-529_america_i-never-understood-what-a-republican-gov_2966422.jpg)
![“[A] republic . . . [is] a government, in which the property of the public, or people, and of every one of them was secure and protected by law . . . implies liberty; because property cannot be secured unless the man be at liberty to acquire, use or part with it, at his discretion, and unless he…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/027/john-adams-529_acquire_a-republic-is-a-government-in-which-the_564060.jpg)
![“[You have Rights] antecedent to all earthly governments: Rights, that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws; Rights, derived from the Great Legislator of the universe.” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/911/john-adams-529_bearing-arms_you-have-rights-antecedent-to-all-earthl_2428701.jpg)
![“The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature. . . . [In] the formation of the American governments . . . it will never be pretended that any persons employed in that service had interviews with the gods, or were…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/562/john-adams-529_america_the-united-states-of-america-have-exhibi_3078397.jpg)
![“. . . Thirteen governments [of the original states] thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/348/john-adams-529_american-founding-fa_thirteen-governments-of-the-original-sta_1511762.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)
