Ambitious Quote by John Adams
“A single assembly is apt to grow ambitious, and after a time will not hesitate to vote itself perpetual. This was one fault of the Long Parliament; but more remarkably of Holland, whose assembly first voted themselves from annual to septennial, then for life, and after a course of years, that all vacancies happening by death or otherwise, should be filled by themselves, without any application to constituents at all.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence with fellow statesman, 1782
Parliamentary bodies can become self‑perpetuating, losing accountability.
In simple terms: Self‑renewing assemblies risk losing public input.
Key Takeaway
Guard against indefinite terms without elections.
Themes
democracy
accountability
political reform
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- legislative bodies
- corporate boards
- nonprofit trustees
Key Concepts
institutional design
term limits
Questions to Reflect On
- Should term limits be enforced?
- How to balance experience with renewal?
A Different Perspective
Long terms may reduce responsiveness to constituents.
![“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)
