Constitution Quotes by John Adams

Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.

— John Adams

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

— John Adams

It is wrong to admit into the Constitution the idea that there can be property in man

— John Adams

Human passions unbridled by morality and religion...would break the stronges cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net.

— John Adams

We electors have an important constitutional power placed in our hands; we have a check upon two branches of the legislature.

— John Adams

The Constitution is ...the greatest single effort of national deliberation that the world has ever seen

— John Adams

“A Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.”

— John Adams

We have no Constitution which functions in the absence of a moral people

— John Adams

It would be an absurdity for jurors to be required to accept the judge's view of the law, against their own opinion,…

— John Adams

“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit,…

— John Adams

The divine science of government is the science of social happiness, and the blessings of society depend entirely on the constitutions of…

— John Adams

That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights…

— John Adams

There is nothing I dread so much as the division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader,…

— John Adams

A question arises whether all the powers of government, legislative, executive, and judicial, shall be left in this body? I think a…

— John Adams

All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise, not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor…

— John Adams

By the former of these (canon law), the most refined, sublime, extensive, and astonishing constitution of policy that ever was conceived by…

— John Adams

It is not only the juror's right, but his duty to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment and…

— John Adams

The most sensible and jealous people are so little attentive to government that there are no instances of resistance until repeated, multiplied…

— John Adams

...Cities may be rebuilt, and a People reduced to Poverty, may acquire fresh Property: But a Constitution of Government once changed from…

— John Adams

A constitution founded on these principles introduces knowledge among the people, and inspires them with a conscious dignity becoming freemen; a general…

— John Adams

If the Christian religion, as I understand it, or as you understand it, should maintain its ground, as I believe it will,…

— John Adams

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

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or…

— John Adams

The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society depend so…

— John Adams

We electors have an important constitutional power placed in our hands: we have a check upon two branches of the legislature, as…

— John Adams

“Now be it known, That I John Adams, President of the United States of America, having seen and considered the said Treaty…

— John Adams

“There is nothing in which mankind have been more unanimous [founding nations upon superstition]; yet nothing can be inferred from it more…

— John Adams

“It was the general opinion of ancient nations, that the divinity alone was adequate to the important office of giving laws to…

— John Adams

If Aristotle, Livy, and Harrington knew what a republic was, the British constitution is much more like a republic than an empire.…

— John Adams

It already appears, that there must be in every society of men superiors and inferiors, because God has laid in the constitution…

— John Adams

The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great…

— John Adams

“When writing the constitution for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, John Adams wrote: I must judge for myself, but how can I judge,…

— John Adams

[I]t is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a…

— John Adams

By my physical constitution I am but an ordinary man ... Yet some great events, some cutting expressions, some mean hypocracies, have…

— John Adams

There is no good government but what is republican. That the only valuable part of the British constitution is so; for the…

— John Adams

Were I to define the British constitution, therefore, I should say, it is a limited monarchy, or a mixture of the three…

— John Adams

The right of a nation to kill a tyrant, in cases of necessity, can no more be doubted, than to hang a…

— John Adams