---
title: "Best Politics Sayings by John Adams"
description: "98 Politics quotes by John Adams. Plus more from John Adams and more Politics sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/john-adams-529_common-good_government-is-instituted-for-the-common_105365.jpg"
---

> [“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit,…](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/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/john-adams-529_common-good_government-is-instituted-for-the-common_105365.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)

> [As good government is an empire of laws, how shall your laws be made? In a large society, inhabiting an extensive country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/as-good-government-is-an-empire-of-laws-how-shall-your-laws-be-made/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/john-adams-529_country_as-good-government-is-an-empire-of-laws_2166467.jpg)

> [Oh! the wisdom, the foresight and the hindsight and the rightsight and the leftsight, the northsight and the southsight, and the eastsight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/oh-the-wisdom-the-foresight-and-the-hindsight-and-the-rightsight-and/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/john-adams-529_assembly_oh-the-wisdom-the-foresight-and-the-hind_959962.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)

> [There is something very unnatural and odious in a government a thousand leagues off. A whole government of our own choice, managed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-odious-in-a-government-a/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/john-adams-529_charm_there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-od_3053554.jpg)

> [It is more important that innocence be protected than it is that guilt be punished, for guilt and crimes are so frequent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/it-is-more-important-that-innocence-be-protected-than-it-is-that/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/john-adams-529_bars_it-is-more-important-that-innocence-be-p_2907640.jpg)

> [Suppose a nation, rich and poor, high and low, ten millions in number, all assembled together; not more than one or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/suppose-a-nation-rich-and-poor-high-and-low-ten-millions-in-number/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/john-adams-529_accounts_suppose-a-nation-rich-and-poor-high-and_1970181.jpg)

> [The good of the governed is the end, and rewards and punishments are the means, of all government. The government of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-good-of-the-governed-is-the-end-and-rewards-and-punishments-are/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/john-adams-529_approach_the-good-of-the-governed-is-the-end-and_2894048.jpg)

> [Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection-2/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/john-adams-529_class_government-is-instituted-for-the-common_2981295.jpg)

> [Thus, experience has ever shown, that education, as well as religion, aristocracy, as well as democracy and monarchy, are, singly, totally inadequate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/thus-experience-has-ever-shown-that-education-as-well-as-religion/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/john-adams-529_aristocracy_thus-experience-has-ever-shown-that-educ_2105511.jpg)

> [The law no passion can disturb. 'Tis void of desire and fear, lust and anger. 'Tis mens sine affectu, written reason, retaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-law-no-passion-can-disturb-tis-void-of-desire-and-fear-lust-and/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/john-adams-529_command_the-law-no-passion-can-disturb-tis-void_2787012.jpg)

> [The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society depend so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-dignity-and-stability-of-government-in-all-its-branches-the/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/john-adams-529_administration_the-dignity-and-stability-of-government_1954933.jpg)

> [We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way,…](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/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/john-adams-529_accompany_we-may-affirm-that-the-balance-of-power_33052.jpg)

> [We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-have-no-government-armed-with-power-capable-of-contending-with/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0f/john-adams-529_ambition_we-have-no-government-armed-with-power-c_703464.jpg)

> [The form of government which you admire, when its principles are pure is admirable indeed. It is productive of every Thing which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-form-of-government-which-you-admire-when-its-principles-are-pure/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/john-adams-529_admirable_the-form-of-government-which-you-admire_3205281.jpg)

> [If there is ever an amelioration of the condition of mankind, philosophers, theologians, legislators, politicians and moralists will find that the regulation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/if-there-is-ever-an-amelioration-of-the-condition-of-mankind/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/john-adams-529_conditions_if-there-is-ever-an-amelioration-of-the_3101107.jpg)

> [As the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/as-the-government-of-the-united-states-is-not-in-any-sense-founded-on/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/john-adams-529_atheist_as-the-government-of-the-united-states-i_1282949.jpg)

## Other authors on Politics

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- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b021/author-ronald-reagan-81107.jpg) Ronald Reagan 276 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/ronald-reagan/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b005/author-barack-obama-16275.jpg) Barack Obama 249 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/barack-obama/)
- [Jarod Kintz 192 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/jarod-kintz/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b021/author-rush-limbaugh-81741.jpg) Rush Limbaugh 182 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/rush-limbaugh/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b012/author-james-madison-46533.jpg) James Madison 176 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/james-madison/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b008/author-donald-trump-30060.jpg) Donald Trump 160 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/donald-trump/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b018/author-noam-chomsky-71799.jpg) Noam Chomsky 158 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/noam-chomsky/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b023/author-thomas-sowell-90605.jpg) Thomas Sowell 151 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/thomas-sowell/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b018/author-narendra-modi-70220.jpg) Narendra Modi 141 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/narendra-modi/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b001/author-p-j-o-rourke-184.jpg) P. J. O'Rourke 135 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/p-j-o-rourke/)
- [Steven Magee 132 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/steven-magee/)

## 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/)

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                        "text": "It is more important that innocence be protected than it is that guilt be punished, for guilt and crimes are so frequent in this world that they cannot all be punished. But if innocence itself is brought to the bar and condemned, perhaps to die, then the citizen will say, \"whether I do good or whether I do evil is immaterial, for innocence itself is no protection,\" and if such an idea as that were to take hold in the mind of the citizen that would be the end of security whatsoever.",
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                        "text": "Suppose a nation, rich and poor, high and low, ten millions in number, all assembled together; not more than one or two millions will have lands, houses, or any personal property; if we take into the account the women and children, or even if we leave them out of the question, a great majority of every nation is wholly destitute of property, except a small quantity of clothes, and a few trifles of other movables.",
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                        "text": "The good of the governed is the end, and rewards and punishments are the means, of all government. The government of the supreme and all-perfect Mind, over all his intellectual creation, is by proportioning rewards to piety and virtue, and punishments to disobedience and vice. ... The joys of heaven are prepared, and the horrors of hell in a future state, to render the moral government of the universe perfect and complete. Human government is more or less perfect, as it approaches nearer or diverges further from an imitation of this perfect plan of divine and moral government.",
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                        "text": "Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.",
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                        "text": "Thus, experience has ever shown, that education, as well as religion, aristocracy, as well as democracy and monarchy, are, singly, totally inadequate to the business of restraining the passions of men, of preserving a steady government, and protecting the lives, liberties, and properties of the people . . . . Religion, superstition, oaths, education, laws, all give way before passions, interest, and power, which can be resisted only by passions, interest, and power.",
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                        "text": "The law no passion can disturb. 'Tis void of desire and fear, lust and anger. 'Tis mens sine affectu, written reason, retaining some measure of the divine perfection. It does not enjoin that which pleases a weak, frail man, but, without any regard to persons, commands that which is good and punishes evil in all, whether rich or poor, high or low.",
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                        "text": "The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society depend so much upon an upright and skillful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that.",
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                        "text": "We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of preserving the balance of power on the side of liberty and public virtue is to make the acquisition of land easy to every member of society; to make a division of the land into small quantities, so that the multitude may be possessed of landed estates.",
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                        "text": "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.",
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                        "text": "The form of government which you admire, when its principles are pure is admirable indeed. It is productive of every Thing which is great and excellent among men. But its principles are as easily destroyed as human nature is corrupted. Such a government is only to be supported by pure religion or Austere morals.",
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                        "text": "If there is ever an amelioration of the condition of mankind, philosophers, theologians, legislators, politicians and moralists will find that the regulation of the press is the most difficult, dangerous and important problem they have to resolve. Mankind cannot now be governed without it, nor at present with it.",
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                        "text": "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 interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries… The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Jewish or a Mohammedan nation.",
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