---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Government is instituted for the common…"
description: "\"Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or privat..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/john-adams-529_class_government-is-instituted-for-the-common_2981295.jpg"
---

#  Government is instituted for the common good; for the…

![“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/john-adams-529_class_government-is-instituted-for-the-common_2981295.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/john-adams-529_class_government-is-instituted-for-the-common_2981295.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/john-adams-529_class_government-is-instituted-for-the-common_2981295.jpg)

> “Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.”

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Government exists for the common good, not profit; people have the right to change it when needed.

**In simple terms:** Governments serve people, not profit; people can reform them.

Key Takeaway

Engage in civic action.

Themes

government rights reform

Mood

determined serious

Type

political advice

When to use this quote

- voting
- protests
- policy advocacy
- community meetings

Key Concepts

political theory social contract

Questions to Reflect On

- What reforms are most urgent?
- How can citizens responsibly demand change?

A Different Perspective

Changing government can be slow and risky.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Common good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-good/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protection/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/)

## Related quotes

> [“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [The people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government and to reform, alter, or totally change the same when their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-people-alone-have-an-incontestable-unalienable-and-indefeasible/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [Government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit and security of the people, nation or community; whenever any government shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/government-is-or-ought-to-be-instituted-for-the-common-benefit-and/)

[George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/)

> [Fiscal responsibility and government reform are going to be good themes for governing, well at any time, but particularly coming out of a recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/fiscal-responsibility-and-government-reform-are-going-to-be-good/)

[Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/)

> [Far as the government's reform agenda is concerned, a series of measures have been enacted which should increase the supply potential of the economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun-jaitley/far-as-the-government-s-reform-agenda-is-concerned-a-series-of/)

[Arun Jaitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arun-jaitley/)

> [To resume, in a few words, the system of the Imperial government, as it was instituted by Augustus, and maintained by those princes who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/to-resume-in-a-few-words-the-system-of-the-imperial-government-as-it/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-rights-of-persons-and-the-rights-of-property-are-the-objects-for/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/why-has-government-been-instituted-at-all-because-the-passions-of-man/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [To preserve, to improve, and to perpetuate the sources and to direct in their most effective channels the streams which contribute to the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/to-preserve-to-improve-and-to-perpetuate-the-sources-and-to-direct-in/)

[John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/)

> [Patriotism is not 'my country right or wrong'; patriotism means loving the ideals for which America stands and having the courage to speak up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/patriotism-is-not-my-country-right-or-wrong-patriotism-means-loving/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [“It would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-cahn/it-would-be-peculiarly-improper-to-omit-in-this-first-official-act-my/)

[Jonathan Cahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-cahn/)

> [Government was instituted by God to bring His laws to people and to carry out His will and purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/government-was-instituted-by-god-to-bring-his-laws-to-people-and-to/)

[Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/)

> [Government is instituted for those who live under it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-sherman/government-is-instituted-for-those-who-live-under-it/)

[Roger Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-sherman/)

> [My fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe; who presides in the councils of nations; and whose providential aid can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-fervent-supplications-to-that-almighty-being-who-rules-over-the/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/rulers-who-wished-to-subvert-the-public-liberty-may-have-found-an/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

## More by John Adams

> [Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [“Daughter! Get you an honest Man for a Husband, and keep him honest. No matter whether he is rich, provided he be independent. Regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/daughter-get-you-an-honest-man-for-a-husband-and-keep-him-honest-no/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-general-principles-on-which-the-fathers-achieved-independence/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-may-affirm-that-the-balance-of-power-in-a-society-accompanies-the/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [“The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-longer-i-live-the-more-i-read-the-more-patiently-i-think-and-the/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/but-what-do-we-mean-by-the-american-revolution-do-we-mean-the/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth: those with the commitment, and those who require the commitment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-are-only-two-creatures-of-value-on-the-face-of-the-earth-those/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [ I will insist the Hebrews have \[contributed\] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-will-insist-the-hebrews-have-contributed-more-to-civilize-men-than/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [Make Things rather than Persons the subjects of conversations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/make-things-rather-than-persons-the-subjects-of-conversations/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/during-the-whole-time-i-sat-with-him-in-congress-i-never-heard-him/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundations-not-of-republicanism-and/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [The universal object and idol of men of letters is reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-universal-object-and-idol-of-men-of-letters-is-reputation/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-consider-a-decent-respect-for-christianity-among-the-best/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

[Explore all 495 John Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

## More Class quotes

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/)

[David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/)

> [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/)

[Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/)

> [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/)

[Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/)

> [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/)

[H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/)

> [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/)

[Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/)

> [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/)

[Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/)

> [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/)

[Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/)

> [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/)

[Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/)

> [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/)

[Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/)

[Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Adams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Class"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/john-adams-529_class_government-is-instituted-for-the-common_2981295.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/john-adams-529_class_government-is-instituted-for-the-common_2981295.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/john-adams-529_class_government-is-instituted-for-the-common_2981295.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the…” — John Adams",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Adams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Government is instituted for the common...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection-2/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```