John Adams

Thomas Jefferson survives.

— John Adams

Negro slavery is an evil of colossal magnitude.

— John Adams

“Every problem is an opportunity in disguise.”

— John Adams

Politics are the divine science, after all,

— John Adams

A government of laws, and not of men.

— John Adams

“Thomas Jefferson still survives”

— John Adams

To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do.

— John Adams

Where annual elections end, there slavery begins

— John Adams

There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.

— John Adams

When you see a good move, sit on your hands and find a better one.

— John Adams

There Are Two Ways to Enslave A Country…One is by the Sword, the Other is by Debt.

— John Adams

Nothing is more dreaded than the national government meddling with religion.

— John Adams

This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.

— John Adams

The National defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman.

— John Adams

“I cannot help suspecting that the more elegance, the less virtue in all times and countries.”

— John Adams

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

— 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

The numbers of men in all ages have preferred ease, slumber, and good cheer to liberty, when they have been in competition.

— John Adams

It will be celebrated... with pomp and parade... bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.

— John Adams

“Government has no right to hurt a hair on the head of an Atheist for his Opinions. Let him have a care…

— John Adams

I never engaged in public affairs for my own interest, pleasure, envy, jealousy, avarice or ambition, or even the desire of fame

— John Adams

When economic power became concentrated in a few hands, then political power flowed to those possessors and away from the citizens, ultimately…

— John Adams

Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.

— John Adams

“Knowledge in the head and virtue in the heart, time devoted to study or business, instead of show and pleasure, are the…

— John Adams

“Yesterday the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in America; and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be, decided…

— John Adams

[J]udges, therefore, should be always men of learning and experience in the laws, of exemplary morals, great patience, calmness, coolness, and attention.…

— John Adams

I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of…

— John Adams

“It may amuse you to hear a Story. A few days ago, in Company with Dr Zubly, somebody said, there was nobody…

— John Adams

Set before us the conduct of our own British ancestors, who defended for us the inherent rights of mankind against foreign and…

— John Adams

The proposition that the people are the best keepers of their own liberties is not true. They are the worst conceivable, they…

— John Adams

The Church of Rome has made it an article of faith that no man can be saved out of their church, and…

— 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

Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree, that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all divines and…

— John Adams

It is more important that innocence be protected than it is that guilt be punished, for guilt and crimes are so frequent…

— John Adams

Elections, especially of representatives and counselors, should be annual, there not being in the whole circle of the sciences a maxim more…

— John Adams

Wisdom and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among the body of the people being necessary for the preservation of their…

— 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

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

— John Adams

“...Turn our thoughts, in the next place, to the characters of learned men. The priesthood have, in all ancient nations, nearly monopolized…

— John Adams

“As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in…

— John Adams