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John Adams

John Adams Quotes

2nd U.S. President

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Famous John Adams Quotes

“July 4th ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion.”

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Author:John Adams
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“The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.”

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Author:John Adams
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“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”

BelieveGodFatherReligiousExistenceChristianityPrinciplesEternalBibleIndependenceAttributesFoundersFoundingGodlyOur Founding FathersUs HistoryDeclaration Of IndependenceFounding Fathers ChristianUs Founding FathersFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersFounding Fathers AtheistChristianity From Founding FathersChristian HeritageRevolution Founding FathersChristian PatrioticOne Nation Under GodAttributes Of GodDependence On God
Book:The Works of John Adams Vol. 10: Letters and State Papers 1811 - 1825
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“I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world.”

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Author:John Adams
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“The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity.”

GodChristianHumanityReligiousVirtueModernBibleAncientFoundersFoundingEquityOur Founding FathersUs HistoryFounding Fathers ChristianUs Founding FathersFounding Fathers ReligionFounding Fathers ReligiousModern TimesFounding Fathers Anti ReligionFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersChristianity From Founding FathersChristian HeritageRevolution Founding Fathers
Book:The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.”

GovernmentLostFreedomLibertyForeverDemocracyConstitutionPatriotFoundingFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyOur Founding FathersUs Founding FathersForefathersFounding AmericaEncroachmentUs ConstitutionAmerican PatriotismAmerican LibertyAmerican PatriotGovernment And Society
Book:The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784
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“But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?”

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Book:The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“Without religion this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company, I mean Hell.”

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Book:The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great Measure, than they have it now. They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty.”

PeopleIfsMayGovernmentFormLibertyVirtuePureConstitutionFoundationInspiredLastingRulersFoundingForms Of GovernmentOur Founding FathersAmerican RevolutionUs Founding FathersBe InspiredAmerican GovernmentFree GovernmentFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersMorality And ReligionMoral Virtues
Author:John Adams
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“The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the law of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”

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Book:The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“[I]t is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.”

LibertyPrinciplesVirtueMoralityPureConstitutionFoundationFoundersFoundingOur Founding FathersFounding Fathers ChristianUs Founding FathersFounding Fathers ReligionFounding Fathers Anti ReligionFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersChristian HeritageReligion And GovernmentMorality And ReligionMoral VirtuesChristian Morality
Book:The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find a precept for Creeds, Confessions, Oaths, Doctrines, and whole carloads of other foolish trumpery that we find in Christianity.”

MadeWholeReligionJesusChristianityAtheismFoolishDoctrineDivinityConfessionCreedsAbsurdityFoundingConvenientOathOur Founding FathersFounding Fathers ChristianUs Founding FathersFounding Fathers ReligionFounding Fathers ReligiousReligion GodFounding Fathers Anti ReligionFounding Fathers AtheistChristianity From Founding FathersChristian AtheistReligion ChristianFaith Religion
Author:John Adams
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“The question before the human race is, whether the God of nature shall govern the world by his own laws, or whether priests and kings shall rule it by fictitious miracles?”

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Book:The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams
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“I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved - the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!”

ReligionGriefAtheismMankindExampleCrossesAbuseHistoricalEnginesSecularFoundingCalamityChurch And StateSeparation Of Church And StateOur Founding FathersAtheisticFounding Fathers ChristianUs Founding FathersFounding Fathers ReligionSeparation Between Church And StateFounding Fathers ReligiousReligion GodFounding Fathers Anti ReligionFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersFounding Fathers AtheistDeismChristianity From Founding FathersChristian AtheistReligion ChristianChristian FatherReligion And GovernmentChristian RightFaith ReligionChristianity And GovernmentReligious History
Author:John Adams
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“Banks have done more injury to the religion, morality, tranquility, prosperity, and even wealth of the nation than they can have done or ever will do good.”

DoneNationsWealthMoralityEconomicsProsperityInjuryTranquilityFoundingBankingOur Founding FathersUs Founding FathersBankers And Banks
Book:The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity”

FatherChristianityPrinciplesIndependenceFoundersFoundingOur Founding FathersUs HistoryDeclaration Of IndependenceFounding Fathers ChristianUs Founding FathersReligious LibertyFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersFounding Fathers AtheistChristianity From Founding FathersChristian HeritageRevolution Founding FathersChristian PatrioticOne Nation Under GodGod Bless AmericaDependence On God
Book:The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“. . . Thirteen governments [of the original states] thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind.”

PeopleStatesWholeGovernmentFatherNaturalReligiousRightsMysteryMankindAuthorityMiracleOriginalsSpreadFavorsSeparationQuartersFoundersGlobesSecularDestinedChurch And StateSeparation Of Church And StateOur Founding FathersThirteenFounding Fathers ChristianState GovernmentUs Founding FathersFounding Fathers ReligionSeparation Between Church And StateFounding Fathers ReligiousReligion GodChristian ChurchPretenceFounding Fathers Anti ReligionFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersFounding Fathers AtheistDeismChristianity From Founding FathersReligion ChristianChristian FatherUs ConstitutionReligion And GovernmentChristian RightChristianity And Government
Book:The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience.”

SaidLibertyRightsArmsBearsGunConscienceConstitutionPressesCongressAmendmentsGun ControlFoundingFreedom And LibertySecond AmendmentFreedom LibertyOur Founding FathersFirearmsUs Founding FathersRight To Bear ArmsGun ViolenceBearing ArmsGun RightsRights And FreedomsPro GunFounding Fathers GunHandguns2 AmendmentFounding Fathers Second AmendmentAmendment 1Amending The ConstitutionAmendment 19Amendment 4Pro Gun ControlHandgun BanPolice Protection
Author:John Adams
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“The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature. . . . [In] the formation of the American governments . . . it will never be pretended that any persons employed in that service had interviews with the gods, or were in any degree under the influence of heaven. . . . These governments were contrived merely by the use of reason and the senses.”

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Author:John Adams
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“If "Thou shalt not covet," and "Thou shalt not steal," were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society, before it can be civilized or made free.”

IfsMadePoliticsHeavenEconomyCapitalismEconomicsStealingLiberalismCivilizedCommandmentsFoundingPrivate PropertyOur Founding FathersProperty RightsUs Founding FathersFounding AmericaReligion And GovernmentCapitalism And Socialism
Book:The Political Writings of John Adams
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“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

PeopleMadeStatesGodGovernmentAmericaPoliticalPoliticsReligiousFreedomLibertyMoralVirtueRightsSocietyMoralityBibleConstitutionLawyerPresidentialUsaHeritageVirtuousFoundersFoundingFirst AmendmentGoverningChurch And StateInadequateOur Founding FathersUs HistoryCivil SocietyFounding Fathers ChristianUs Founding FathersAmerican SocietyFounding Fathers ReligionFounding Fathers ReligiousAmerican GovernmentReligion GodReligious LibertyFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersFounding Fathers AtheistChristian FatherChristian HeritageUs ConstitutionAmerican LibertyFounding Fathers DemocracyReligion And GovernmentMorality And ReligionLiberty And JusticeContendingMoral VirtuesRevolution Founding FathersReligion In SocietyGovernment And SocietyChristian PatrioticOne Nation Under GodAmerican ConstitutionChristian MoralityJustice Of GodFuture Of AmericaChristianity And GovernmentPatriotic ReligiousMoral DecayChristian SchoolsMoral FreedomMoral Society
Book:Works: with a life of the author
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“All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise, not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from the downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation.”

WantAmericaNatureMoneyVirtueIgnoranceHonorCapitalismConstitutionCreditAriseConfusionPatrioticFoundersDistressDefectsCoinsFoundingBankingBankersOur Founding FathersCirculationUs Founding FathersFounding Fathers Of AmericaEconomic FreedomPerplexityCentral BankingConfederationFlipping A Coin
Author:John Adams
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“I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.”

EarthAmericaLibertyWonderMankindDesignSceneIndependenceIgnorantOpeningPatrioticReverenceProvidenceFounding4th Of JulyIlluminationEmancipationOur Founding FathersSettlementUs Founding FathersForefathersUs Independence Day
Book:The Portable John Adams
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“But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.”

GovernmentLostLibertyForeverChangedConstitutionPresidentialPatriotFoundingFreedom And LibertyFreedom Of ThoughtFreedom LibertyOur Founding FathersUs Founding FathersForefathersFounding AmericaEncroachmentUs ConstitutionAmerican PatriotismAmerican LibertyAmerican PatriotGovernment And SocietyPatriotism And Freedom
Book:The Letters of John and Abigail Adams
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“Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.”

ShouldChildrenFreedomLibertyPrinciplesDemocracyEducatedPatrioticFoundingFreedom And LibertyFreedom Of ThoughtFreedom LibertyOur Founding FathersPublic EducationAmerican LibertyRevolution Founding FathersAmerican FreedomEducation And Freedom
Book:The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, - as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen, - and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”

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Author:John Adams
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“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.”

PeopleHumansGovernmentReligionPassionPoliticsReligiousLibertyMoralBreakMoralityAmbitionCapableConstitutionRevengeStrongestFoundingInadequateAvariceWhalesOur Founding FathersCordsUs Founding FathersForefathersFounding Fathers ReligionFounding Fathers ReligiousAmerican GovernmentReligious LibertyFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersFounding Fathers AtheistUs ConstitutionAmerican LibertyReligion And GovernmentMorality And ReligionContendingAmerica FreedomMoral VirtuesRevolution Founding FathersGallantryAmerican FreedomAmerican ConstitutionPower GovernmentAmerican PowerStrong GovernmentUnbridled Passion
Book:The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.”

IfsWorldWould BeReligionReligiousLibertyAtheismAtheistBeing The BestDelusionInsightfulFoundersSecularAgnosticFoundingChurch And StateFreedom And LibertySeparation Of Church And StateFreedom LibertyOur Founding FathersReligious FreedomFounding Fathers ChristianUs Founding FathersFounding Fathers ReligionSeparation Between Church And StateFounding Fathers ReligiousIf There Is A GodReligion GodReligious LibertyFounding Fathers Anti ReligionFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersFounding Fathers AtheistAnti ReligiousDeismThere Being No GodChristianity From Founding FathersChristian AtheistReligion ChristianChristian FatherChristian HeritageAmerican LibertyReligion And GovernmentAnti ChristianChristian RightAgainst ReligionAnti ReligionGod DelusionFaith ReligionRevolution Founding FathersReligion In SocietyChristian GodGreatest AtheistFree Thinkers
Book:The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams
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“[L]iberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood.”

IfsFatherFreedomPleasureLibertyBloodRevolutionEconomicsEaseExpensesMakersEstatesFoundingOur FatherHazardsOur Founding FathersAmerican RevolutionUs Founding FathersAmerican LibertyRevolution Founding Fathers
Book:An Eulogy on John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, etc
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