Definitions Quote by John Adams
“I would define liberty to be a power to do as we would be done by. The definition of liberty to be the power of doing whatever the law permits, meaning the civil laws, does not seem satisfactory.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: “Letter to Thomas Jefferson”, 1795
Liberty should be the power to act as we wish, but merely allowing what law permits is insufficient; true freedom requires moral autonomy.
In simple terms: Liberty is more than legal permission.
Key Takeaway
Pursue moral agency beyond legal limits.
Themes
freedom
law
morality
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- civic engagement
- civil rights activism
- personal decision‑making
Key Concepts
political philosophy
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities accompany true liberty?
- How do you balance law and conscience?
A Different Perspective
Legal frameworks can restrict moral choices.
![“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)
![“The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a [person] postulates as being a greater totality than [oneself] can become a symbol of the self. For this reason the symbol of the self is not always as total as the definition would require.” quote by Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/251/carl-jung-274_defined_the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-t_7148.jpg)
