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John Quincy Adams Quotes

6th U.S. President

John Quincy Adams was the 6th President of the United States, born on July 11, 1767, and died on February 28, 1848. He was a prominent statesman, diplomat, and scholar, known for his extensive knowledge and political experience.

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Famous John Quincy Adams Quotes

“The political system of the United States is essentially extra-European. To stand in firm and cautious independence of all entanglement in the European system has been a cardinal point of their policy under every administration of their government from the peace of 1783 to this day...Every year's experience rivets it more deeply in the principles and opinions of the nation.”

Source: Writings of John Quincey Adams

“It is essential..that you should form and adopt certain rules or principles, for the government of your own conduct and temper. Unless you have such rules and principles, there will be numberless occasions on which you will have no guide for your government but your passions..It is in the Bible, you must learn them, and from the Bible how to practice them.”

Should Government Form Certain Passion Principles Practice Essentials Bible Guides Occasions Temper

Author:John Quincy Adams

“The declaration that our People are hostile to a government made by themselves, for themselves, and conducted by themselves, is an insult.”

People Made Government Insult Declaration Hostile

Author:John Quincy Adams

“Not stones, nor wood, nor the art of artisans make a state; but where men are who know how to take care of themselves, these are cities and walls.”

Knows Men Art States Government Care Cities Know How Wall Stones Woods Take Care Artisans

Author:John Quincy Adams

“To preserve, to improve, and to perpetuate the sources and to direct in their most effective channels the streams which contribute to the public weal is the purpose for which Government was instituted.”

Government Purpose Source Direct Preserves Streams

Author:John Quincy Adams

“The great problem of legislation is, so to organize the civil government of a community... that in the operation of human institutions upon social action, self-love and social may be made the same.”

Humans May Made Self Problem Government Action Social Community Self Love Institutions Operations Organize Legislation Social Action

Author:John Quincy Adams

“Our political way of life is by the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God, and of course presupposes the existence of God, the moral ruler of the universe, and a rule of right and wrong, of just and unjust, binding upon man, preceding all institutions of human society and government.”

Men Way Humans Government Law Political Life Is Universe Courses Existence Moral Institutions Rulers Unjust Laws Of Nature Human Society Binding Existence Of God

Author:John Quincy Adams

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”

“The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people... it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

“If there have been those who doubted whether a confederated representative democracy were a government competent to the wise and orderly management of the common concerns of a mighty nation, those doubts have been dispelled.”

Ifs Has Beens Government Nations Common Democracy Doubt Wise Concern Management Representatives Competent Doubted Orderly

Book:John Quincy Adams, 1767-1848; chronology, documents, bibliographical aids

Source: John Quincy Adams, 1767-1848; chronology, documents, bibliographical aids

“The experience of all former ages had shown that of all human governments, democracy was the most unstable, fluctuating and short-lived.”

Humans Government Age Democracy Former Unstable Short Lived Founding Fathers Democracy

Book:The Jubilee of the Constitution: A Discourse Delivered at the Request of the New York Historical Society, in the City of New York, on Tuesday, the 30th of April, 1839; Being the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Inauguration of George Washington as President of the United States, on Thursday, the 30th of April, 1789 ...

Source: The Jubilee of the Constitution: A Discourse Delivered at the Request of the New York Historical Society, in the City of New York, on Tuesday, the 30th of April, 1839; Being the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Inauguration of George Washington as President of the United States, on Thursday, the 30th of April, 1789 ...

“The law given from Sinai was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code; it contained many statutes . . . of universal application-laws essential to the existence of men in society, and most of which have been enacted by every nation which ever professed any code of laws.”

Men Wells Has Beens Government Law Religion Given Nations Religious Existence Moral Morality Essentials Universal Code Application Statutes Sinai

Book:Letters of John Quincy Adams, to His Son, on the Bible and Its Teachings

Source: Letters of John Quincy Adams, to His Son, on the Bible and Its Teachings

“There are three points of doctrine the belief of which forms the foundation of all morality. The first is the existence of God; the second is the immortality of the human soul; and the third is a future state of rewards and punishments. Suppose it possible for a man to disbelieve either of these three articles of faith and that man will have no conscience, he will have no other law than that of the tiger or the shark. The laws of man may bind him in chains or may put him to death, but they never can make him wise, virtuous, or happy.”

Source: Letters of Mrs. Adams: the wife of John Adams

“The will of the people is the source and the happiness of the people the end of all legitimate government upon earth.”

People Ends Government Earth Source Gratitude Legitimate Government

Book:The Selected Writings of John and John Quincy Adams

Source: The Selected Writings of John and John Quincy Adams

“The manners of women are the surest criterion by which to determine whether a republican government is practicable in a nation or not.”

Government Nations Republican Determine Manners Criteria Republican Government

Author:John Quincy Adams

“All the public business in Congress now connects itself with intrigues, and there is great danger that the whole government will degenerate into a struggle of cabals.”

Whole Government Politics Struggle Danger Congress Intrigue Degenerates Cabal

Book:John Quincy Adams: Diaries 1779-1821

Source: John Quincy Adams: Diaries 1779-1821

“Is it not that in the chain of human events, the birthday of a nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?”

“America, with the same voice which spoke herself into existence as a nation, proclaimed to mankind the inextinguishable rights of human nature, and the only lawful foundations of government.”

Humans Government America Nations Voice Existence Rights Mankind Human Nature Foundation Presidential Spokes

Book:An Address, Delivered at the Request of the Committee of Arrangements for Celebrating the Anniversary of Independence: At the City of Washington on the Fourth of July 1821, Upon the Occasion of Reading the Declaration of Independence. ...

Source: An Address, Delivered at the Request of the Committee of Arrangements for Celebrating the Anniversary of Independence: At the City of Washington on the Fourth of July 1821, Upon the Occasion of Reading the Declaration of Independence. ...

“Of the two great political parties which have divided the opinions and feelings of our country, the candid and the just will now admit that both have contributed splendid talents, spotless integrity, ardent patriotism, and disinterested sacrifices to the formation and administration of this Government, and that both have required a liberal indulgence for a portion of human infirmity and error.”

Source: John Quincy Adams, 1767-1848; chronology, documents, bibliographical aids

“And may that Being who is supreme over all, the Patron of order, the Fountain of justice, and the Protector, in all ages of the world, of virtuous liberty, continue His blessing upon this nation and its government, and give it all possible success and duration, consistent with the ends of His providence.”

Source: Inaugural Speeches from the Presidents of the United States - Complete Edition