Ambition Quote by John Adams
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence, 1795
Human passions unchecked by moral or religious frameworks can overpower governmental power, making constitutions ineffective for non‑moral societies.
In simple terms: Passions can undermine law without moral restraint.
Key Takeaway
Build institutions with checks on unchecked passions.
Themes
politics
ethics
government
human nature
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legislative drafting
- civic education
- judicial oversight
Key Concepts
social contract
moral philosophy
institutional design
Questions to Reflect On
- Can law function without shared morality?
- What safeguards can limit passion‑driven abuse?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all societies share similar moral foundations.
![“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)
