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John Adams

John Adams Quotes

2nd U.S. President

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Famous John Adams Quotes

“It was the general opinion of ancient nations, that the divinity alone was adequate to the important office of giving laws to men... and modern nations, in the consecrations of kings, and in several superstitious chimeras of divine rights in princes and nobles, are nearly unanimous in preserving remnants of it... Is the jealousy of power, and the envy of superiority, so strong in all men, that no considerations of public or private utility are sufficient to engage their submission to rules for their own happiness? Or is the disposition to imposture so prevalent in men of experience, that their private views of ambition and avarice can be accomplished only by artifice? — … There is nothing in which mankind have been more unanimous; yet nothing can be inferred from it more than this, that the multitude have always been credulous, and the few artful. The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature: and if men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves of artifice, imposture, hypocrisy, and superstition, they will consider this event as an era in their history. Although the detail of the formation of the American governments is at present little known or regarded either in Europe or America, it may hereafter become an object of curiosity. It will never be pretended that any persons employed in that service had any interviews with the gods, or were in any degree under the inspiration of heaven, any more than those at work upon ships or houses, or labouring in merchandize or agriculture: it will for ever be acknowledged that these governments were contrived merely by the use of reason and the senses. As Copley painted Chatham, West, Wolf, and Trumbull, Warren and Montgomery; as Dwight, Barlow, Trumbull, and Humphries composed their verse, and Belknap and Ramzay history; as Godfrey invented his quadrant, and Rittenhouse his planetarium; as Boylston practised inoculation, and Franklin electricity; as Paine exposed the mistakes of Raynal, and Jefferson those of Buffon, so unphilosophically borrowed from the Recherches Philosophiques sur les Américains those despicable dreams of de Pauw — neither the people, nor their conventions, committees, or sub-committees, considered legislation in any other light than ordinary arts and sciences, only as of more importance. Called without expectation, and compelled without previous inclination, though undoubtedly at the best period of time both for England and America, to erect suddenly new systems of laws for their future government, they adopted the method of a wise architect, in erecting a new palace for the residence of his sovereign. They determined to consult Vitruvius, Palladio, and all other writers of reputation in the art; to examine the most celebrated buildings, whether they remain entire or in ruins; compare these with the principles of writers; and enquire how far both the theories and models were founded in nature, or created by fancy: and, when this should be done, as far as their circumstances would allow, to adopt the advantages, and reject the inconveniences, of all. Unembarrassed by attachments to noble families, hereditary lines and successions, or any considerations of royal blood, even the pious mystery of holy oil had no more influence than that other of holy water: the people universally were too enlightened to be imposed on by artifice; and their leaders, or more properly followers, were men of too much honour to attempt it. Thirteen governments thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favour of the rights of mankind. [Preface to 'A Defence of the Constitutions of the United States of America', 1787]”

ReasonPhilosophyGovernmentHappinessSciencePoliticsRightsInfluenceMankindDiscoveryAdvantageConstitutionInventionDivinitySecularSuperstitionLawsExpectationArtificeDivine RightHoly WaterPaineThomas JeffersonJeffersonThomas PaineSecular Government
Book:A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America: Akashic U.S. Presidents Series
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“While our country remains untainted with the principles and manners which are now producing desolation in so many parts of the world; while she continues sincere, and incapable of insidious and impious policy, we shall have the strongest reason to rejoice our local destination. But should the people of America once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another, and towards foreign nations, which assumes the language of justice and moderation, while it is practising iniquity and extravagance, and displays in the most captivating manner the charming pictures of candour, frankness, and sincerity, while it is rioting in rapine and insolence, this country will be the most miserable habitation in the world.”

PoliticsManners
Book:Thoughts on government applicable to the present state of the American colonies.: Philadelphia, Printed by John Dunlap, M,DCC,LXXXVI.
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“The science of government it is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take the place of, indeed exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain.”

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Book:Letters of John Adams, Addressed to His Wife
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“The law no passion can disturb. 'Tis void of desire and fear, lust and anger. 'Tis mens sine affectu, written reason, retaining some measure of the divine perfection. It does not enjoin that which pleases a weak, frail man, but, without any regard to persons, commands that which is good and punishes evil in all, whether rich or poor, high or low.”

MenPersonsDoeReasonLawDesirePassionEvilPoliticsPoorRichWrittenDivinePleaseLowsPerfectionWeakRegardLustCommandVoidFrailRich Or PoorRetaining
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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“Twenty times, in the course of my late reading, have I been on the point of breaking out, 'this would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!' But in this exclamation, I should have been as fanatical as Bryant or Cleverly. Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in public company-I mean hell.”

IfsWorldShouldMeanHas BeensWould BePoliticalCoursesReadingPoliticsCompanyHellThis WorldFitLateShould HaveTwentiesBeing The BestShould Have BeenFounding Fathers ChristianFounding Fathers ReligionFounding Fathers ReligiousFounding Fathers Anti ReligionFounding Fathers AtheistChristianity From Founding FathersExclamation
Book:John Adams: a biography in his own words
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“Property is surely a right of mankind as real as liberty. Perhaps, at first, prejudice, habit, shame or fear, principle or religion, would restrain the poor from attacking the rich, and the idle from usurping on the industrious; but the time would not be long before courage and enterprise would come, and pretexts be invented by degrees, to countenance the majority in dividing all the property among them, or at least, in sharing it equally with its present possessors.”

FirstsLongRealPoliticsPoorLibertyPrinciplesEconomyRichMankindHabitDegreesPrejudiceShameMajorityPropertyLiberalismEnterpriseIdleAttackingCountenanceDividingPretextIndustrious
Book:The Works of John Adams Vol. 6: Defence of the Constitution IV, Discourses on Davila
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“Suppose a nation, rich and poor, high and low, ten millions in number, all assembled together; not more than one or two millions will have lands, houses, or any personal property; if we take into the account the women and children, or even if we leave them out of the question, a great majority of every nation is wholly destitute of property, except a small quantity of clothes, and a few trifles of other movables.”

IfsChildrenTwoTogetherHousePoliticsNationsPoorNumbersMillionsEconomyRichLandTenClothesLowsAccountsMajorityPropertyLiberalismQuantityTriflesRich And PoorDestituteHighs And Lows
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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“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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“Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. But if unlimited or unbalanced power of disposing property, be put into the hands of those who have no property, France will find, as we have found, the lamb committed to the custody of the world. In such a case, all the pathetic exhortations and addresses of the national assembly to the people, to respect property, will be regarded no more than the warbles of the songsters of the forest.”

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Author:John Adams
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“We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of preserving the balance of power on the side of liberty and public virtue is to make the acquisition of land easy to every member of society; to make a division of the land into small quantities, so that the multitude may be possessed of landed estates.”

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Book:John Adams Speaking: Pound's Sources for the Adams Cantos
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“If the multitude is possessed of the balance of real estate, the multitude will have the balance of power, and in that case the multitude will take care of the liberty, virtue, and interest of the multitude in all acts of government.”

IfsRealGovernmentCarePoliticsInterestLibertyCasesEconomyVirtueBalanceTake CareLiberalismPossessedMultitudesEstatesBalance Of Power
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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“Where annual elections end, there slavery begins ... Humility, patience, and moderation, without which every man in power becomes a ravenous beast of prey.”

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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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“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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“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence: nor is the law less stable than the fact.”

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Book:The Works [of] John Adams, Second President of the United States: Life of John Adams
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“There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.”

MenInspirationalWarGovernmentPoliticsFreedomLibertyPowerDemocracyDangerTrustOughtOur SocietyPatrioticAnti WarAntiwarPatriotMaximsFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyPolitical PowerDemocracies HaveBearing ArmsAmerican GovernmentFree GovernmentRights And FreedomsAmerican LibertyPublic TrustGovernment And SocietyGovernment And PoliticsPower GovernmentPower PoliticsEndangerment
Author:John Adams
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“The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.”

LawPoliticsSupportArmsFundamentalsAmendmentsSecond AmendmentRight To Bear ArmsMilitiaBearing ArmsFounding Fathers Gun2 AmendmentFounding Fathers Second AmendmentAmendment 1
Book:A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America: Against the Attack of M. Turgot in His Letter to Dr. Price, Dated the Twenty-second Day of March, 1778
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“I have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have consented to my own ruin, to your ruin, and to the ruin of our children. I give you this warning that you may prepare your mind for your fate.”

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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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“It is more important that innocence be protected than it is that guilt be punished, for guilt and crimes are so frequent in this world that they cannot all be punished. But if innocence itself is brought to the bar and condemned, perhaps to die, then the citizen will say, "whether I do good or whether I do evil is immaterial, for innocence itself is no protection," and if such an idea as that were to take hold in the mind of the citizen that would be the end of security whatsoever.”

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Author:John Adams
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“I must study Politicks and War that my sons may have liberty to study Mathematicks and Philosophy. My sons ought to study Mathematicks and Philosophy, Geography, natural History, Naval Architecture, navigation, Commerce and Agriculture, in order to give their Children a right to study Painting, Poetry, Musick, Architecture, Statuary, Tapestry and Porcelaine. (12 May 1780)”

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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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