All John Adams Quotes
- The right of a nation to kill a tyrant in case of necessity can no more be doubted than to hang a robber, or kill… Case
- Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. Any
- Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts… Alter
- Power always thinks... that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws. All
- I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Education
- All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise, not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so… All
- Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people. Among
- Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. Commit
- There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger… All
- Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society. Abuse
- Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write. American Revolution
- Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases. Authority
- The happiness of society is the end of government. End
- Fear is the foundation of most governments. Conspiracy
- The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed blind eternal fate, I should still… Any
- A government of laws, and not of men. Conservative
- In politics the middle way is none at all. All
- Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order. Age
- Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war. Anti War
- The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws. Commanded
- I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in providence, for the illumination… All
- Liberty, according to my metaphysics is a self-determining power in an intellectual agent. It implies thought and choice and power. According
- I have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have consented to my own ruin, to your ruin, and to the ruin… Accepted
- When people talk of the freedom of writing, speaking or thinking I cannot choose but laugh. No such thing ever existed. No such thing now… Cannot Choose
- The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries. Consists