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 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

“The origin of the political relations between the United States and France is coeval with the first years of our independence. The memory of it is interwoven with that of our arduous struggle for national existence. Weakened as it has occasionally been since that time, it can by us never be forgotten, and we should hail with exultation the moment which should indicate a recollection equally friendly in spirit on the part of France.”

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

“There still remains one effort of magnanimity, one sacrifice of prejudice and passion, to be made by the individuals throughout the nation who have heretofore followed the standards of political party. It is that of discarding every remnant of rancor against each other, of embracing as countrymen and friends, and of yielding to talents and virtue alone that confidence which in times of contention for principle was bestowed only upon those who bore the badge of party communion.”

“Of all persecuted sects, the Baptists stand forth as most prominent, simply and only because they aim at a more complete and thorough reform than any others ever attempted. They teach that Christ's kingdom is not of this world; that the church is not a national, political, or provincial establishment; but a congregation of holy men, separated from the world by the receiving of the Holy Spirit.”

Source: Babtists, the Only Thorough Religious Reformers

“While dwelling with pleasing satisfaction upon the superior excellence of our political institutions, 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, and that the tenure of power by man is, in the moral purposes of his Creator, upon condition that it shall be exercised to ends of beneficence, to improve the condition of himself and his fellow men.”

Source: John Quincy Adams and American continental empire: letters, papers and speeches

“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

“I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils under which the Union is now laboring ... a conspiracy of the few against the equal rights of the many ...Masonry ought forever to be abolished. It is wrong - essentially wrong - a seed of evil, which can never produce any good.”

Ifs Believe Political Order Evil Moral Forever Rights Produce Ought Equal Unions Seeds Conspiracy Sincerely Equal Rights Masonry Freemasonry

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.”

“There is nothing so deep and nothing so shallow which political enmity will not turn to account.”

Political Turns Accounts Presidential Shallow Enmity

Author:John Quincy Adams

“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

“Whenever vanity and gaiety, a love of pomp and dress, furniture, equipage, buildings, great company, expensive diversions, and elegant entertainments get the better of the principles and judgments of men and women, there is no knowing where they will stop, nor into what evils, natural, moral, or political, they will lead us.”

Men Political Evil Natural Company Moral Principles Knowing Building Judgment Men And Women Dresses Entertainment Vanity Expensive Elegant Furniture Diversion Great Company Gaiety

Author:John Quincy Adams