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John Hancock

John Hancock Quotes

Former President of the Continental Congress

John Hancock, born on January 23, 1737, and died on October 8, 1793, was a prominent political figure in the American Revolutionary War era. He served as the President of the Continental Congress and was one of the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence.

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Famous John Hancock Quotes

“Let us humbly commit our righteous cause to the great Lord of the Universe…. Let us joyfully leave our concerns in the hands of Him who raises up and puts down the empires and kingdoms of the earth as He pleases.”

Inspirational God Revolutionary War God S Power Concerns Committing

Author:John Hancock

“There! His Majesty can now read my name without glasses. And he can double the reward on my head!”

Names Liberty Rewards Glasses Patriotic Majesty American Revolution

Author:John Hancock

“A chip on the shoulder is too heavy a piece of baggage to carry through life.”

Attitude Liberty Pieces Heavy Shoulders Chips Baggage Emotional Baggage

Author:John Hancock

“In circumstances as dark as these, it becomes us, as Men and Christians, to reflect that whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgments, ...at the same time all confidence must be withheld from the means we use; and reposed only on that God rules in the armies of Heaven, and without His whole blessing, the best human counsels are but foolishness.”

Men Should Humans Mean Whole Use Christian Heaven Dark Liberty Taken Circumstances Blessing Judgment Army Foolishness Our Founding Fathers Prudent Us Founding Fathers

Author:John Hancock

“...that all may bow to the scepter of our Lord Jesus Christ and that the whole Earth may be filled with his glory.”

May Whole God Earth Jesus Christ Religious Lord Glory Bible Jesus Christ Filled Bows Our Lord Us History Lord Jesus Christ Our Lord Jesus Christ

Author:John Hancock

“We must be unanimous; there must be no pulling different ways; we must hang together.”

Way Different Together Revolution Different Ways Pulling American Revolution

Author:John Hancock

“Though we are politically enemies, yet with regard to Science it is presumable we shall not dissent from the practice of civilized people in promoting it”

People Enemy Practice Regard Patriotic Civilized Promoting Dissent

Author:John Hancock

“I congratulate you and my country on the singular favor of heaven in the peaceable and auspicious settlement of our government upon a Constitution formed by wisdom, and sanctified by the solemn choice of the people who are to live under it. May the Supreme ruler of the world be pleased to establish and perpetuate these new foundations of liberty and glory....Thank God, my country is saved and by the smile of Heaven I am a free and independant man.”

People Men World May Country Government Choices Heaven Liberty Glory Constitution Foundation Favors Saved Supreme Thank God Rulers Solemn Settlement

Author:John Hancock

“I glory in publicly avowing my eternal enmity to tyranny.”

Eternal Glory Tyranny Enmity

Author:John Hancock

“The British ministry can read that name without spectacles; let them double their reward.”

Names Rewards British Ministry Spectacles

Author:John Hancock

“Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual… Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us.”

“Some boast of being friends to government; I am a friend to righteous government, to a government founded upon the principles of reason and justice; but I glory in publicly avowing my eternal enmity to tyranny.”

Reason Government Justice Principles Revolution Eternal Glory Tyranny Righteous Boast Enmity

Author:John Hancock

“Let this sad tale of death never be told without a tear: let every parent tell the shameful story to his listening children, till tears of pity glisten in their eyes, or boiling passion shakes their tender frames.”

Children Stories Eye Passion Parent Tears Revolution Listening Tales Pity Shakes Shameful American Revolution Boiling Glisten

Author:John Hancock

“Sensible of the importance of Christian piety and virtue to the order and happiness of a state, I cannot but earnestly commend to you every measure for their support and encouragement ... Manners, by which not only the freedom, but the very existence of the republics, are greatly affected, depend much upon the public institutions of religion and the good education of youth; in both these instances our fathers laid wise foundations, for which their posterity have had reason to bless their memory.”

“Sensible of the importance of Christian piety and virtue to the order and happiness of a state, I cannot but earnestly commend to you every measure for their support and encouragement”

States Christian Order Support Virtue Importance Encouragement Sensible Piety Support And Encouragement

Author:John Hancock

“I shall look forward to a pleasant time.”

Looks Pleasant Last Words Famous Last Words

Author:John Hancock

“The more people who own little businesses of their own, the safer our country will be, and the better off its cities and towns; for the people who have a stake in their country and their community are its best citizens.”

People Littles Country Community Business Cities Citizens Towns Our Country Stakes Better Off Cities And Towns

Author:John Hancock

“Maybe we need to fall on the common-sense side of protecting these species, but continue harvesting wood products we all use and enjoy. We've got to be able to do both - protect water quality and species, as well as harvest trees.”

Needs Wells Use Able Fall Enjoy Sides Water Common Quality Tree Products Protect Species Woods Common Sense Harvest Water Quality

Author:John Hancock

“people who pay greater respect to a wealthy villain than to an honest, upright man in poverty, almost deserve to be enslaved; they plainly show that wealth, however it may be acquired, is, in their esteem, to be preferred to virtue.”

“The important consequences to the American States from this Declaration of Independence, considered as the ground and foundation of a future government, naturally suggest the propriety of proclaiming it in such a manner as that the people may be universally informed of it.”

People May Important States Government Consequence Independence Foundation Declaration Declaration Of Independence Propriety Proclaiming

Author:John Hancock

“I John Hancock, . . . being advanced in years and being of perfect mind and memory-thanks be given to God-therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die [Hebrews 9:27], do make and ordain this my last will and testament...Principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it: and my body I recommend to the earth . . . nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mercy and power of God. . .”

“I urge you by all this is dear, by all that is honorable, by all that is sacred, not only that you pray but also that you act!”

Praying Sacred Dear Urges Honorable

Author:John Hancock

“It is the Happiness of his Church that, when the Powers of Earth and Hell combine against it...that the Throne of Grace is of the easiest access-and its Appeal thither is graciously invited by the Father of Mercies, who has assured it, that when his Children ask Bread he will not give them a Stone.”

Giving Children Earth Asks Father Church Hell Grace Stones Mercy Access Bread Appeals Thrones Invited Assured

Author:John Hancock

About the Author

Born: January 23, 1737
Died: October 8, 1793
Known for: Former President of the Continental Congress
Quotes: 23

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