--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The dignity and stability of government…" description: "\"The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society depend so much upon an upright and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/john-adams-529_administration_the-dignity-and-stability-of-government_1954933.jpg" --- # The dignity and stability of government in all its… ![“The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society depend so much upon an upright and skillful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/john-adams-529_administration_the-dignity-and-stability-of-government_1954933.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/john-adams-529_administration_the-dignity-and-stability-of-government_1954933.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/john-adams-529_administration_the-dignity-and-stability-of-government_1954933.jpg) > “The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society depend so much upon an upright and skillful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that.” [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. Justice must be independent to check other branches and uphold societal morals. **In simple terms:** Upright justice checks power. Key Takeaway Support judicial independence. Themes law government checks and balances morality Mood serious reflective Type political legal When to use this quote - legislative drafting - court decisions - public policy - civic education Key Concepts separation of powers rule of law Questions to Reflect On - How can we safeguard judicial independence? - What role does public trust play? A Different Perspective Independence can be compromised by political pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Administration of justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration-of-justice/) [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Branches of government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/branches-of-government/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Judicial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judicial/) [Judicial power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judicial-power/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Stability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stability/) ## Related quotes > [Impressed with a conviction that the due administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good Government, I have considered the first arrangement of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/impressed-with-a-conviction-that-the-due-administration-of-justice-is/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The due administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government, I have considered the first arrangement of the judicial department as essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-due-administration-of-justice-is-the-firmest-pillar-of-good/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Those who serve upon our juries have maintained a standard of fairness and excellence and demonstrated a vision toward the administration of justice that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/those-who-serve-upon-our-juries-have-maintained-a-standard-of/) [Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/) > [... The popular attitude toward the administration of justice should be one of respect and confidence. Bureaucratic, purely official justice, can never receive such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-wigmore/the-popular-attitude-toward-the-administration-of-justice-should-be/) [John Henry Wigmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-wigmore/) > [ \[T\]he opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves, in their,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/t-he-opinion-which-gives-to-the-judges-the-right-to-decide-what-laws/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [True freedom requires the rule of law and justice, and a judicial system in which the rights of some are not secured by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/true-freedom-requires-the-rule-of-law-and-justice-and-a-judicial/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [The executive shall never exercise the legislative and judicial powers, or either of them, to the end that it may be a government of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-executive-shall-never-exercise-the-legislative-and-judicial/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [A question arises whether all the powers of government, legislative, executive, and judicial, shall be left in this body? I think a people cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/a-question-arises-whether-all-the-powers-of-government-legislative/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [It is essential to the pure and peaceful administration of justice that all its officers keep carefully within the boundaries of their constitutional powers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-woodbury/it-is-essential-to-the-pure-and-peaceful-administration-of-justice/) [Levi Woodbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-woodbury/) > [As attorney general I see my role as defender both of press freedom and of the fair administration of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/as-attorney-general-i-see-my-role-as-defender-both-of-press-freedom/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [The administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-administration-of-justice-is-the-firmest-pillar-of-government/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton-2/everything-secret-degenerates-even-the-administration-of-justice/) John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton > [I said the first concern of the administration of justice must, of course, be the individual. The second concern is the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-richardson/i-said-the-first-concern-of-the-administration-of-justice-must-of/) [Elliot Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-richardson/) > [“But justice is the bond of men in states, for the administration of justice, which is the determination of what is just, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/but-justice-is-the-bond-of-men-in-states-for-the-administration-of/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“There is good reason to believe that the administration of justice is infected by predictable incoherence in several domains. The evidence is drawn in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/there-is-good-reason-to-believe-that-the-administration-of-justice-is/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) ## 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 Administration quotes > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. 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He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. 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