Home / Authors / John Quincy Adams

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.

Filter quotes by topic

All Men Government Nations Humans Liberty Earth Made May People Principles America Country Political World Years Independence Mankind Law Moral Presidential

Famous John Quincy Adams Quotes

“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

“We know the redemption must come. The time and the manner of its coming we know not: It may come in peace, or it may come in blood; but whether in peace or in blood, LET IT COME.”

Knows May Blood Redemption

Author:John Quincy Adams

“Our Constitution professedly rests upon the good sense and attachment of the people. This basis, weak as it may appear, has not yet been found to fail.”

People May Found Failing Weak Bases Constitution Attachment Good Sense

Book:The Selected Writings of John and John Quincy Adams

Source: The Selected Writings of John and John Quincy Adams

“The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth. Never since the foundation of the world have the prospects of mankind been more encouraging to that hope than they appear to be at the present time. And may the associated distribution of the Bible proceed and prosper till the Lord shall have made 'bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God' (Isaiah 52:10).”

“I shall look for whatever success may attend my public service; and knowing that "except the Lord keep the city the watchman waketh but in vain," with fervent supplications for His favor, to His overruling providence I commit with humble but fearless confidence my own fate and the future destinies of my country.”

Source: The Selected Writings of John and John Quincy Adams

“But America is a great, unwieldy Body. Its Progress must be slow... Like a Coach and six - the swiftest Horses must be slackened and the slowest quickened, that all may keep an even Pace.”

May Body America Progress Six Horse Coaches Pace

Book:John Adams

Source: John Adams

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

“I am a warrior, so that my son may be a merchant, so that his son may be a poet.”

May Son Poet Warrior My Son Merchants

Author:John Quincy Adams

“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.”

Men May Wisdom Law Politics Liberty Wise Chains Virtuous Moral Virtues

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

“Let us not be unmindful that liberty is power, that the nation blessed with the largest portion of liberty must in proportion to its numbers be the most powerful nation upon earth. Our Constitution professedly rests upon the good sense and attachment of the people. This basis, weak as it may appear, has not yet been found to fail. Always vote for a principle, though you vote alone, and you may cherish the sweet reflection that your vote is never lost. America, in the assembly of nations, has uniformly spoken among them the language of equal liberty, equal justice, and equal rights.”

“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

“May our country be always successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right.”

May Country America Successful Our Country Presidential

Author:John Quincy Adams

“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