Character Quote by John Adams

Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a positive passion…

— John Adams

There can be no public or private virtue unless the foundation of action is the practice of truth.

— George Holyoake

For when was public virtue to be found Where private was not?

— William Cowper

When was public virtue to be found when private was not?

— William Cowper

Virtue is necessary to a republic.

— Baron de Montesquieu

When public virtue is gone, when the national spirit is fled the republic is lost in essence, though it may still exist in form

— John Adams

Have you ever found in history, one single example of a nation, thoroughly corrupted, that was afterwards restored to virtue? And without virtue there…

— John Adams

Virtue alone is not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws alone cannot carry themselves into practice.

— Mencius

The ages of greatest public spirit are not always eminent for private virtue.

— David Hume

Good government is the outcome of private virtue.

— John Jay Chapman

Without Virtue there can be no liberty

— Benjamin Rush

It is certainly true that a popular government cannot flourish without virtue in the people.

— Richard Henry Lee