--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There never was yet a people who must not…" description: "\"There never was yet a people who must not have somebody or something to represent the dignity of the state, the majesty of the people, call it what you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/john-adams-529_ambition_there-never-was-yet-a-people-who-must-no_722810.jpg" --- # There never was yet a people who must not have somebody or… ![“There never was yet a people who must not have somebody or something to represent the dignity of the state, the majesty of the people, call it what you will - a doge, an avoyer, an archon, a president, a consul, a syndic; this becomes at once an object of ambition and dispute, and, in time, of…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/john-adams-529_ambition_there-never-was-yet-a-people-who-must-no_722810.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/john-adams-529_ambition_there-never-was-yet-a-people-who-must-no_722810.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/john-adams-529_ambition_there-never-was-yet-a-people-who-must-no_722810.jpg) > “There never was yet a people who must not have somebody or something to represent the dignity of the state, the majesty of the people, call it what you will - a doge, an avoyer, an archon, a president, a consul, a syndic; this becomes at once an object of ambition and dispute, and, in time, of division, faction, sedition, and rebellion.” [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. Power structures attract ambition, leading to conflict and division over time **In simple terms:** Authority breeds competition and eventual rebellion Key Takeaway Guard against concentration of power and promote checks Themes government authority conflict Mood serious concerned Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - legislation - public office - civic engagement Key Concepts Political theory social contract Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards prevent power abuse? - How does representation affect societal stability? A Different Perspective Idealizing any single role can ignore systemic flaws ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Dignity State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity-state-4798188/) [Disputes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disputes/) [Division](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/division/) [Factions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/factions/) [Majesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majesty/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Doge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-doge-5678269/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Rebellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebellion/) [Represent Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/represent-dignity-257118/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Somebody Represent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-represent-4798189/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [There never was yet a people who must not have somebody or something to represent the dignity of the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-never-was-yet-a-people-who-must-not-have-somebody-or-something-2/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I take the responsibility of playing another ethnicity very, very seriously, and I promise myself and those people that I will represent them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/i-take-the-responsibility-of-playing-another-ethnicity-very-very/) [Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/) > [I'm representing the people of the United States and I'm going to represent them as somebody should represent them, not how they've been represented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-representing-the-people-of-the-united-states-and-i-m-going-to/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [When I read the epitaphs of the beautiful, every inordinate desire goes out; when I meet with the grief of parents upon a tombstone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/when-i-read-the-epitaphs-of-the-beautiful-every-inordinate-desire/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [When truth is evident, it is impossible for parties and factions to rise. There never has been a dispute as to whether there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/when-truth-is-evident-it-is-impossible-for-parties-and-factions-to/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Indeed, Mr. Jefferson, what could be invented to debase the ancient Christianism, which Greeks, Romans, Hebrews and Christian factions, above all the Catholics, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/indeed-mr-jefferson-what-could-be-invented-to-debase-the-ancient/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I would quarrel with both parties, and with every individual of each, before I would subjugate my understanding, or prostitute my tongue or pen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-would-quarrel-with-both-parties-and-with-every-individual-of-each/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [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 am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. 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When carrying out everyday tasks, opinions are rather easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/senses-of-humor-define-people-as-factions-deeper-rooted-than/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Restoring nature to its natural state is a cause beyond party and beyond factions. It has become a common cause of all the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/restoring-nature-to-its-natural-state-is-a-cause-beyond-party-and/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Women lead in ways different from men's. Men, I think, have been programmed to give orders. Women have been programmed to motivate people, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-fox/women-lead-in-ways-different-from-men-s-men-i-think-have-been/) [Muriel Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-fox/) > [The Shield had run its course as a three-man group, and we'll go down in history as one of the greatest factions of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rollins/the-shield-had-run-its-course-as-a-three-man-group-and-we-ll-go-down/) [Seth Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rollins/) ## 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. 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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 Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There never was yet a people who must not have somebody or something to represent the dignity of the state, the majesty of the people, call it what you will - a doge, an avoyer, an archon, a president, a consul, a syndic; this becomes at once an object of ambition and dispute, and, in time, of division, faction, sedition, and rebellion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-never-was-yet-a-people-who-must-not-have-somebody-or-something/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-never-was-yet-a-people-who-must-not-have-somebody-or-something/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/john-adams-529_ambition_there-never-was-yet-a-people-who-must-no_722810.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/john-adams-529_ambition_there-never-was-yet-a-people-who-must-no_722810.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/john-adams-529_ambition_there-never-was-yet-a-people-who-must-no_722810.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There never was yet a people who must not have somebody or something to represent the dignity of the state…” — 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 never was yet a people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-never-was-yet-a-people-who-must-not-have-somebody-or-something/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-never-was-yet-a-people-who-must-not-have-somebody-or-something/#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 } } ] } ```