--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Public affairs go on pretty much as…" description: "\"Public affairs go on pretty much as usual: perpetual chicanery and rather more personal abuse than there used to be.\" — John Adams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/john-adams-529_abuse_public-affairs-go-on-pretty-much-as-usua_2358439.jpg" --- # Public affairs go on pretty much as usual: perpetual… ![“Public affairs go on pretty much as usual: perpetual chicanery and rather more personal abuse than there used to be.” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/john-adams-529_abuse_public-affairs-go-on-pretty-much-as-usua_2358439.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/john-adams-529_abuse_public-affairs-go-on-pretty-much-as-usua_2358439.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/john-adams-529_abuse_public-affairs-go-on-pretty-much-as-usua_2358439.jpg) > “Public affairs go on pretty much as usual: perpetual chicanery and rather more personal abuse than there used to be.” [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. Political life is plagued by ongoing deceit and increasing personal attacks, indicating a decline in civility **In simple terms:** Politics is full of lies and personal abuse Key Takeaway Stay vigilant, demand integrity Themes politics deceit personal attacks Mood cynical critical Type observational historical When to use this quote - government scandals - public discourse Key Concepts civic decay media manipulation Questions to Reflect On - What can restore honesty in politics? - How do personal attacks affect public trust? A Different Perspective The view may be overly pessimistic, ignoring positive reforms ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Abuse Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse-used-3748437/) [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Chicanery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicanery/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Perpetual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetual/) [Perpetual Chicanery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetual-chicanery-5766937/) [Personal Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-abuse-412521/) [Public affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-affairs/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Used to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-to-be/) [Usual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usual/) [Usual Perpetual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usual-perpetual-5766936/) ## Related quotes > [Be not intimidated...nor suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberties by any pretense of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These, as they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/be-not-intimidated-nor-suffer-yourselves-to-be-wheedled-out-of-your/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Domestic violence and abuse are used for one purpose and one purpose only: to gain and maintain total control over you. An abuser doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/domestic-violence-and-abuse-are-used-for-one-purpose-and-one-purpose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Hands Should Never Be Used To Hit, Hurt or Abuse Anyone. They Should Always Be Used To Help Better our World Instead!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/hands-should-never-be-used-to-hit-hurt-or-abuse-anyone-they-should/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [I don't make personal abuse against anybody, I don't mind personal remarks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/i-don-t-make-personal-abuse-against-anybody-i-don-t-mind-personal/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [I don't respond in any way to personal abuse that is thrown at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/i-don-t-respond-in-any-way-to-personal-abuse-that-is-thrown-at-me/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [ \[Ed Miliband\]'s elevated personal abuse into a sort of strategy ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/ed-miliband-s-elevated-personal-abuse-into-a-sort-of-strategy/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [Many mothers are wholly ignorant of the almost universal prevalence of secret vice, or self-abuse among the young. Why hesitate to say firmly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harvey-kellogg/many-mothers-are-wholly-ignorant-of-the-almost-universal-prevalence/) [John Harvey Kellogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harvey-kellogg/) > [“I don't get involved in personal abuse. I'm not reducing myself to that level. If people don't like what I wear, don't like what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/i-don-t-get-involved-in-personal-abuse-i-m-not-reducing-myself-to/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [Personal abuse is no substitute for policy. It signals panic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/personal-abuse-is-no-substitute-for-policy-it-signals-panic/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I have already said and will continue to say that I won't respond to personal abuse, and I never make any personal abuse, ever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/i-have-already-said-and-will-continue-to-say-that-i-won-t-respond-to/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [The consequences of these institutions (The towns or districts, the congregations, the schools,and the militia.) have been, that the inhabitants, having acquired from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-consequences-of-these-institutions-the-towns-or-districts-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I never engaged in public affairs for my own interest, pleasure, envy, jealousy, avarice or ambition, or even the desire of fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-never-engaged-in-public-affairs-for-my-own-interest-pleasure-envy/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The press of this countrty is now and always has been so thoroughly dominated by the wealthy few of the country that it cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-scripps/the-press-of-this-countrty-is-now-and-always-has-been-so-thoroughly/) [E. W. Scripps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-scripps/) > [I hate this world, this dream, this horrible nightmare, with its churches and chicaneries, its books and blackguardisms, its fair faces and false hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/i-hate-this-world-this-dream-this-horrible-nightmare-with-its/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [To vice, innocence must always seem only a superior kind of chicanery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/to-vice-innocence-must-always-seem-only-a-superior-kind-of-chicanery/) [Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/) ## 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 Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Public affairs go on pretty much as usual: perpetual chicanery and rather more personal abuse than there used to be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/public-affairs-go-on-pretty-much-as-usual-perpetual-chicanery-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/public-affairs-go-on-pretty-much-as-usual-perpetual-chicanery-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/john-adams-529_abuse_public-affairs-go-on-pretty-much-as-usua_2358439.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/john-adams-529_abuse_public-affairs-go-on-pretty-much-as-usua_2358439.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/john-adams-529_abuse_public-affairs-go-on-pretty-much-as-usua_2358439.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Public affairs go on pretty much as usual: perpetual chicanery and rather more personal abuse than there…” — 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": "Public affairs go on pretty much...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/public-affairs-go-on-pretty-much-as-usual-perpetual-chicanery-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/public-affairs-go-on-pretty-much-as-usual-perpetual-chicanery-and/#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 } } ] } ```