“I cannot help suspecting that the more elegance, the less virtue in all times and countries.” — 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 whole drama of the world is such tragedy that I am weary of the spectacle. — John Adams Copy Share Image
Let the human mind loose. It must be loose. It will be loose. Superstition and dogmatism cannot confine it. — John Adams Copy Share Image
Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government… — 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
When public virtue is gone, when the national spirit is fled the republic is lost in essence, though it may still exist… — 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
Have you ever found in history, one single example of a nation, thoroughly corrupted, that was afterwards restored to virtue? And without… — 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
All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise, not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor… — 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
We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way,… — John Adams Copy Share Image
What is to become of an independent statesman, one who will bow the knee to no idol, who will worship nothing as… — 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
What havoc, said I to myself, would these manners make in America! Our governors, our judges, our senators or representatives, and even… — John Adams Copy Share Image
There are persons whom in my heart I despise, others I abhor. Yet I am not obliged to inform the one of… — John Adams Copy Share Image
It may be the will of Heaven that America shall suffer calamities still more wasting, and distresses yet more dreadful. If this… — John Adams Copy Share Image
It has ever been my hobby-horse to see rising in America an empire of liberty, and a prospect of two or three… — John Adams Copy Share Image
Elections, especially of representatives and counselors, should be annual, there not being in the whole circle of the sciences a maxim more… — 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
[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
“To believe all men honest is folly. To believe none is something worse.” — John Adams Copy Share Image
Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics — John Adams Copy Share Image
If there is a form of government, then, whose principle and foundation is virtue, will not every sober man acknowledge it better… — 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
Will you tell me how to prevent riches from producing luxury? Will you tell me how to prevent luxury from producing effeminacy,… — John Adams Copy Share Image
The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom,… — John Adams Copy Share Image
[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 Copy Share Image
Liberty can no more exist without virtue and independence than the body can live and move without a soul. — John Adams Copy Share Image
“I cannot think it either Vanity or Virtue to acknowledge, that the Acquisition and communication of Knowledge, are the sole Entertainment of… — 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
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
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 Image
“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 Image
The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity — John Adams Copy Share Image
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 Image
“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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together. — 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 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/quotes/img-quotes/ac9/john-adams-529_ability_d-emocracy-will-soon-degenerate-into-an_1146087.jpg)
![“[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.” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/495/john-adams-529_american-founding-fa_i-t-is-religion-and-morality-alone-which_2063414.jpg)
![“I will insist the Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations. They are the most glorious nation…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e34/john-adams-529_affair_i-will-insist-the-hebrews-have-contribut_104004.jpg)
