--- title: "13 Foundation Quotes By John Adams" description: "13 Foundation quotes by John Adams. Plus more from John Adams and more Foundation sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/john-adams-529_character_the-foundations-of-national-morality-mus_1505135.jpg" --- > [The foundations of national morality must be laid in private families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-foundations-of-national-morality-must-be-laid-in-private-families/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/john-adams-529_character_the-foundations-of-national-morality-mus_1505135.jpg) > [Fear is the foundation of most governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/fear-is-the-foundation-of-most-governments/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/john-adams-529_fear_fear-is-the-foundation-of-most-governmen_1145663.jpg) > [ \[I\]t is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-t-is-religion-and-morality-alone-which-can-establish-the-principles/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/john-adams-529_american-founding-fa_i-t-is-religion-and-morality-alone-which_2063414.jpg) > [As the happiness of the people is the sole end of government, so the consent of the people is the only foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/as-the-happiness-of-the-people-is-the-sole-end-of-government-so-the-2/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/john-adams-529_consent_as-the-happiness-of-the-people-is-the-so_1879597.jpg) > [Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/public-virtue-cannot-exist-in-a-nation-without-private-and-public-2/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/john-adams-529_character_public-virtue-cannot-exist-in-a-nation-w_2456753.jpg) > [The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-only-foundation-of-a-free-constitution-is-pure-virtue-and-if-this/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/john-adams-529_american-founding-fa_the-only-foundation-of-a-free-constituti_2275108.jpg) > [Fear is the foundation of most governments; but it is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men in whose breasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/fear-is-the-foundation-of-most-governments-but-it-is-so-sordid-and/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/john-adams-529_breasts_fear-is-the-foundation-of-most-governmen_1422266.jpg) > [If there is a form of government, then, whose principle and foundation is virtue, will not every sober man acknowledge it better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/if-there-is-a-form-of-government-then-whose-principle-and-foundation/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/john-adams-529_acknowledge_if-there-is-a-form-of-government-then-wh_2131958.jpg) > [It already appears, that there must be in every society of men superiors and inferiors, because God has laid in the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/it-already-appears-that-there-must-be-in-every-society-of-men/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/john-adams-529_constitution_it-already-appears-that-there-must-be-in_143614.jpg) > [Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundations-not-of-republicanism-and/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/john-adams-529_combination_religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundat_113766.jpg) > [Tis impossible to judge with much Præcision of the true Motives and Qualities of human Actions, or of the Propriety of Rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/tis-impossible-to-judge-with-much-pr-cision-of-the-true-motives-and/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/john-adams-529_action_tis-impossible-to-judge-with-much-pr-cis_2492146.jpg) > [Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/public-virtue-cannot-exist-in-a-nation-without-private-and-public/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/john-adams-529_foundation_public-virtue-cannot-exist-in-a-nation-w_2155054.jpg) > [ “There is nothing in which mankind have been more unanimous \[founding nations upon superstition\]; yet nothing can be inferred from it more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-is-nothing-in-which-mankind-have-been-more-unanimous-founding/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06f/john-adams-529_america_there-is-nothing-in-which-mankind-have-b_1297350.jpg) ## Other authors on Foundation ## More by John Adams > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Daughter! Get you an honest Man for a Husband, and keep him honest. No matter whether he is rich, provided he be independent. Regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/daughter-get-you-an-honest-man-for-a-husband-and-keep-him-honest-no/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-general-principles-on-which-the-fathers-achieved-independence/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-may-affirm-that-the-balance-of-power-in-a-society-accompanies-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-longer-i-live-the-more-i-read-the-more-patiently-i-think-and-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/but-what-do-we-mean-by-the-american-revolution-do-we-mean-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth: those with the commitment, and those who require the commitment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-are-only-two-creatures-of-value-on-the-face-of-the-earth-those/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [ I will insist the Hebrews have \[contributed\] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-will-insist-the-hebrews-have-contributed-more-to-civilize-men-than/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Make Things rather than Persons the subjects of conversations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/make-things-rather-than-persons-the-subjects-of-conversations/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/during-the-whole-time-i-sat-with-him-in-congress-i-never-heard-him/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundations-not-of-republicanism-and/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The universal object and idol of men of letters is reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-universal-object-and-idol-of-men-of-letters-is-reputation/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-consider-a-decent-respect-for-christianity-among-the-best/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/john-adams/#itemlist", "name": "13 Foundation Quotes By John Adams", "numberOfItems": 13, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The foundations of national morality must be laid in private families.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-foundations-of-national-morality-must-be-laid-in-private-families/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/john-adams-529_character_the-foundations-of-national-morality-mus_1505135.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/john-adams-529_character_the-foundations-of-national-morality-mus_1505135.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/john-adams-529_character_the-foundations-of-national-morality-mus_1505135.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The foundations of national morality must be laid in private families.” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fear is the foundation of most governments.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/fear-is-the-foundation-of-most-governments/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/john-adams-529_fear_fear-is-the-foundation-of-most-governmen_1145663.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/john-adams-529_fear_fear-is-the-foundation-of-most-governmen_1145663.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/john-adams-529_fear_fear-is-the-foundation-of-most-governmen_1145663.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fear is the foundation of most governments.” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[I]t is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-t-is-religion-and-morality-alone-which-can-establish-the-principles/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/john-adams-529_american-founding-fa_i-t-is-religion-and-morality-alone-which_2063414.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/john-adams-529_american-founding-fa_i-t-is-religion-and-morality-alone-which_2063414.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/john-adams-529_american-founding-fa_i-t-is-religion-and-morality-alone-which_2063414.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[I]t is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely…” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As the happiness of the people is the sole end of government, so the consent of the people is the only foundation of it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/as-the-happiness-of-the-people-is-the-sole-end-of-government-so-the-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/john-adams-529_consent_as-the-happiness-of-the-people-is-the-so_1879597.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/john-adams-529_consent_as-the-happiness-of-the-people-is-the-so_1879597.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/john-adams-529_consent_as-the-happiness-of-the-people-is-the-so_1879597.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As the happiness of the people is the sole end of government, so the consent of the people is the only…” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/public-virtue-cannot-exist-in-a-nation-without-private-and-public-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/john-adams-529_character_public-virtue-cannot-exist-in-a-nation-w_2456753.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/john-adams-529_character_public-virtue-cannot-exist-in-a-nation-w_2456753.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/john-adams-529_character_public-virtue-cannot-exist-in-a-nation-w_2456753.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great Measure, than they have it now. They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-only-foundation-of-a-free-constitution-is-pure-virtue-and-if-this/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/john-adams-529_american-founding-fa_the-only-foundation-of-a-free-constituti_2275108.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/john-adams-529_american-founding-fa_the-only-foundation-of-a-free-constituti_2275108.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/john-adams-529_american-founding-fa_the-only-foundation-of-a-free-constituti_2275108.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People…” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fear is the foundation of most governments; but it is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men in whose breasts it predominates so stupid and miserable, that Americans will not be likely to approve of any political institution which is founded on it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/fear-is-the-foundation-of-most-governments-but-it-is-so-sordid-and/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/john-adams-529_breasts_fear-is-the-foundation-of-most-governmen_1422266.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/john-adams-529_breasts_fear-is-the-foundation-of-most-governmen_1422266.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/john-adams-529_breasts_fear-is-the-foundation-of-most-governmen_1422266.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fear is the foundation of most governments; but it is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men in…” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there is a form of government, then, whose principle and foundation is virtue, will not every sober man acknowledge it better calculated to promote the general happiness than any other form?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/if-there-is-a-form-of-government-then-whose-principle-and-foundation/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/john-adams-529_acknowledge_if-there-is-a-form-of-government-then-wh_2131958.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/john-adams-529_acknowledge_if-there-is-a-form-of-government-then-wh_2131958.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/john-adams-529_acknowledge_if-there-is-a-form-of-government-then-wh_2131958.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there is a form of government, then, whose principle and foundation is virtue, will not every sober man…” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It already appears, that there must be in every society of men superiors and inferiors, because God has laid in the constitution and course of nature the foundations of the distinction.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/it-already-appears-that-there-must-be-in-every-society-of-men/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/john-adams-529_constitution_it-already-appears-that-there-must-be-in_143614.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/john-adams-529_constitution_it-already-appears-that-there-must-be-in_143614.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/john-adams-529_constitution_it-already-appears-that-there-must-be-in_143614.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It already appears, that there must be in every society of men superiors and inferiors, because God has laid…” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in all the combinations of human society.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundations-not-of-republicanism-and/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/john-adams-529_combination_religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundat_113766.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/john-adams-529_combination_religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundat_113766.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/john-adams-529_combination_religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundat_113766.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social…” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tis impossible to judge with much Præcision of the true Motives and Qualities of human Actions, or of the Propriety of Rules contrived to govern them, without considering with like Attention, all the Passions, Appetites, Affections in Nature from which they flow. An intimate Knowledge therefore of the intellectual and moral World is the sole foundation on which a stable structure of Knowledge can be erected.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/tis-impossible-to-judge-with-much-pr-cision-of-the-true-motives-and/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/john-adams-529_action_tis-impossible-to-judge-with-much-pr-cis_2492146.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/john-adams-529_action_tis-impossible-to-judge-with-much-pr-cis_2492146.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/john-adams-529_action_tis-impossible-to-judge-with-much-pr-cis_2492146.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Tis impossible to judge with much Præcision of the true Motives and Qualities of human Actions, or of the…” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a positive passion for the public good, the public interest, honour, power and glory, established in the minds of the people, or there can be no republican government, nor any real liberty: and this public passion must be superiour to all private passions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/public-virtue-cannot-exist-in-a-nation-without-private-and-public/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/john-adams-529_foundation_public-virtue-cannot-exist-in-a-nation-w_2155054.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/john-adams-529_foundation_public-virtue-cannot-exist-in-a-nation-w_2155054.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/john-adams-529_foundation_public-virtue-cannot-exist-in-a-nation-w_2155054.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of…” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There is nothing in which mankind have been more unanimous [founding nations upon superstition]; yet nothing can be inferred from it more than this, that the multitude have always been credulous, and the few artful. The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature: and if men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves of artifice, imposture, hypocrisy, and superstition, they will consider this event as an era in their history... [T]he detail of the formation of the American governments... may hereafter become an object of curiosity. It will never be pretended that any persons employed in that service had any interviews with the gods, or were in any degree under the inspiration of heaven... it will for ever be acknowledged that these governments were contrived merely by the use of reason and the senses... Thirteen governments thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favour of the rights of mankind. [A Defence of the Constitutions of the United States of America, 1787]”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-is-nothing-in-which-mankind-have-been-more-unanimous-founding/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06f/john-adams-529_america_there-is-nothing-in-which-mankind-have-b_1297350.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06f/john-adams-529_america_there-is-nothing-in-which-mankind-have-b_1297350.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06f/john-adams-529_america_there-is-nothing-in-which-mankind-have-b_1297350.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is nothing in which mankind have been more unanimous [founding nations upon superstition]; yet nothing…” — John Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/john-adams/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/john-adams/", "name": "Foundation Quotes by John Adams", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/john-adams/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/john-adams-529_character_the-foundations-of-national-morality-mus_1505135.jpg" }, "description": "13 Foundation quotes by John Adams. Plus more from John Adams and more Foundation sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/john-adams/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/john-adams/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Foundation", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "John Adams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/john-adams/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```