--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is something very unnatural and…" description: "\"There is something very unnatural and odious in a government a thousand leagues off. A whole government of our own choice, managed by persons whom we l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/john-adams-529_charm_there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-od_3053554.jpg" --- # There is something very unnatural and odious in a… ![“There is something very unnatural and odious in a government a thousand leagues off. A whole government of our own choice, managed by persons whom we love, revere, and can confide in, has charms in it for which men will fight.” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/john-adams-529_charm_there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-od_3053554.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/john-adams-529_charm_there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-od_3053554.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/john-adams-529_charm_there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-od_3053554.jpg) > “There is something very unnatural and odious in a government a thousand leagues off. A whole government of our own choice, managed by persons whom we love, revere, and can confide in, has charms in it for which men will fight.” [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. Expresses idealistic view of self‑governed government chosen by loved ones, highlighting emotional appeal of such a system. **In simple terms:** Ideal government chosen by loved ones. Key Takeaway Value community‑chosen governance. Themes politics idealism community Mood philosophical political Type advice reflective When to use this quote - political activism - local governance - community building Key Concepts social contract trust in leadership Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make a government trustworthy? - How can citizens ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Idealism may ignore practical challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-choice-689278/) [Government Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-thousand-5090453/) [League](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/league/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Odious Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odious-government-5090452/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Revere Confide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revere-confide-5090454/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Unnatural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnatural/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [We should be unfaithful to ourselves if we should ever lose sight of the danger to our Liberties if anything partial or extraneous should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-should-be-unfaithful-to-ourselves-if-we-should-ever-lose-sight-of/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The only way to eliminate any government choice on what art is worthwhile, what art isn't worthwhile, is to get the government totally out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/the-only-way-to-eliminate-any-government-choice-on-what-art-is/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [There may be in every government a few choice spirits, who may act from more worthy motives. One great error is that we suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/there-may-be-in-every-government-a-few-choice-spirits-who-may-act/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [This archaic idea - that a woman who is unmarried and childless at 30 is somehow unnatural - will probably always exist, and, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/this-archaic-idea-that-a-woman-who-is-unmarried-and-childless-at-30/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Creativity is our true nature; blocks are an unnatural thwarting of a process at once as normal and as miraculous as the blossoming of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/creativity-is-our-true-nature-blocks-are-an-unnatural-thwarting-of-a/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [The ideal is unnatural naturalness, or natural unnaturalness. I mean it is a combination of both. I mean here is natural instinct and here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-ideal-is-unnatural-naturalness-or-natural-unnaturalness-i-mean-it/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The most unnatural of the sexual pleasures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-unnatural-of-the-sexual-pleasures/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is unnatural for a Christian not to have an appetite for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/it-is-unnatural-for-a-christian-not-to-have-an-appetite-for-the/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [“Either that’s your mobile buzzing in your room, or there’re sex toys you haven’t told us about having a party in there without you.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-belfield/either-that-s-your-mobile-buzzing-in-your-room-or-there-re-sex-toys/) [J.A. Belfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-belfield/) > [The golf swing is among the most stressful and unnatural acts in sports, short of cheering for the Yankees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-faxon/the-golf-swing-is-among-the-most-stressful-and-unnatural-acts-in/) [Brad Faxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-faxon/) > [The unnatural, that too is natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-unnatural-that-too-is-natural/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [In a way, human beings have never been part of the natural order; we're not biological in the normal sense. Normal biological animals stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/in-a-way-human-beings-have-never-been-part-of-the-natural-order-we-re/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [For the most part, improvising while cameras are rolling is very difficult. 99% of people you should never ask to do that, because they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/for-the-most-part-improvising-while-cameras-are-rolling-is-very/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [... the unnatural ways we substitute for the natural prove not enough and soon there must be more and more unnaturalness, more and more violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-freeman/the-unnatural-ways-we-substitute-for-the-natural-prove-not-enough-and/) [Lucy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-freeman/) ## 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 Charm quotes > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Modesty is the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-herford/modesty-is-the-gentle-art-of-enhancing-your-charm-by-pretending-not/) [Oliver Herford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-herford/) > [Talk health. The dreary, never-changing tale Of mortal maladies is worn and stale. You cannot charm, or interest, or please By harping in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/talk-health-the-dreary-never-changing-tale-of-mortal-maladies-is-worn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [I'm an old school guy and love the guys in the monster suits and JAWS; even though everyone makes fun of the shark I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-fessenden/i-m-an-old-school-guy-and-love-the-guys-in-the-monster-suits-and-jaws/) [Larry Fessenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fessenden/) > [Every woman has the instinct, the propensity to profit from her charms, and there's a lot to be said for giving oneself without love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/every-woman-has-the-instinct-the-propensity-to-profit-from-her-charms/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [I don't know that I'm a free spirit or anything like that. I just have my own way of doing things. That's the charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-schultz/i-don-t-know-that-i-m-a-free-spirit-or-anything-like-that-i-just-have/) [Dave Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-schultz/) > [In each studio there is a human being dressed in the full regalia of his myth fearing to expore a vulnerable opening, spreading not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/in-each-studio-there-is-a-human-being-dressed-in-the-full-regalia-of/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“It's a part of life. You never know what you are going to get; you just have to be strong enough to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-hill/it-s-a-part-of-life-you-never-know-what-you-are-going-to-get-you-just/) [Melissa Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-hill/) > [Even after marrying Mallika, I feel that I am her boyfriend. In fact, I believe this feeling enhances the charm and fun of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zayed-khan/even-after-marrying-mallika-i-feel-that-i-am-her-boyfriend-in-fact-i/) [Zayed Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zayed-khan/) > [Criticism even should not be without its charms. When quite devoid of all amenities, it is no longer literary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/criticism-even-should-not-be-without-its-charms-when-quite-devoid-of/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [“Never trust charm, it's the most powerful weapon in the devil's armory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-gilbert/never-trust-charm-it-s-the-most-powerful-weapon-in-the-devil-s-armory/) [Anthony Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-gilbert/) > [Paul Taylor's 'Offenbach Overtures' has lots of zip and charm, and its pair of dueling soldiers in red, who end up starry-eyed about each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/paul-taylor-s-offenbach-overtures-has-lots-of-zip-and-charm-and-its/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [Time's stern tide, with cold Oblivion's wave, Shall soon dissolve each fair, each fading charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-seward/time-s-stern-tide-with-cold-oblivion-s-wave-shall-soon-dissolve-each/) [Anna Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-seward/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Browse all 1,415 Charm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is something very unnatural and odious in a government a thousand leagues off. A whole government of our own choice, managed by persons whom we love, revere, and can confide in, has charms in it for which men will fight.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-odious-in-a-government-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Charm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-odious-in-a-government-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/john-adams-529_charm_there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-od_3053554.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/john-adams-529_charm_there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-od_3053554.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/john-adams-529_charm_there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-od_3053554.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is something very unnatural and odious in a government a thousand leagues off. A whole government of…” — 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": "There is something very unnatural and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-odious-in-a-government-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-is-something-very-unnatural-and-odious-in-a-government-a/#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 } } ] } ```