Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by John Adams

Quote by John Adams

Work

The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations

This volume includes a wide array of John Adams's personal and professional correspondence, political writings, and other documents. It also features a detailed biography of Adams, providing insight into his life and times. The book is further enhanced with notes and illustrations that offer context and analysis of Adams's work. more

Author

John Adams
John Adams

John Adams, the second President of the United States, was a statesman, diplomat, and writer. Born on October 30, 1735, and died on July 4, 1826, Adams played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. He was one of the drafters of the Declaration of Independence and served as the President from 1789 to 1797. more

You May Also Like

“The whole notion of sanity may be an attempt to medicalize morality - to speak of the good in the language of health: to make us more accurate, more scientific in our wanting - but by the same token it becomes a form of moral blackmail. It is as if to say: if these are not valued - if these forms of wanting and feeling and speaking and doing - are not cultivated and encouraged and rewarded in the child, then the child will be mad.”

IfsMayChildrenWholeFeelingsFormSpeakLanguageMoralMoralityMadNotionSanityAccurateTokensBlackmail
Book:Going sane
Create image

“A constitution founded on these principles introduces knowledge among the people, and inspires them with a conscious dignity becoming freemen; a general emulation takes place, which causes good humor, sociability, good manners, and good morals to be general. That elevation of sentiment inspired by such a government, makes the common people brave and enterprising. That ambition which is inspired by it makes them sober, industrious, and frugal.”

PeopleGovernmentCausesCommonMoralPrinciplesInspireBecomingAmbitionConsciousDignityConstitutionBraveInspiredMannersGood ManSentimentsIntroducingSoberGood MannersElevationIndustriousFreemanGood HumorFrugalEmulationSociabilityGood MoralEnterprising
Book:The Works of John Adams Vol. 4: Novanglus, Thoughts on Government, Defence of the Constitution I
Create image

“The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society depend so much upon an upright and skillful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that.”

PeopleShouldMayGovernmentJusticeMoralDependsOughtBlessingDignityConstitutionIndependentChecksAdministrationBranchesExecutivesStabilityJudicialSkillfulBranches Of GovernmentJudicial PowerAdministration Of Justice
Author:John Adams
Create image

“To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders of towns, counties or districts of a state, is to demolish every constitution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man; it is a dissolution of the government. 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.”

MenSelfStatesHandsGovernmentLawUsedOrderIndividualLibertySupportArmsCitizensConstitutionTownsFundamentalsLaysDefenseEnjoyedAmendmentsCountyDiscretionSelf DefenseSecond AmendmentRight To Bear ArmsMilitiaBearing ArmsDissolutionFounding Fathers Gun2 AmendmentFounding Fathers Second AmendmentDemolishAmendment 1
Author:John Adams
Create image

“It is the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping GOD in the manner most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship.”

MenPersonsGodUniverseHurtReligiousLibertySubjectsDutyWorshipConscienceSeasonsCreatorProfessionSupremeSentimentsEstatesWorship GodSupreme Being
Book:The Political Writings of John Adams: Representative Selections
Create image

“Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a positive passion for the public good, the public interest, honour, power and glory, established in the minds of the people, or there can be no republican government, nor any real liberty: and this public passion must be superiour to all private passions.”

PeopleMindRealGovernmentPassionNationsInterestLibertyVirtueRepublicanGloryFoundationRepublicHonourPublic GoodPublic InterestRepublican Government
Book:Warren-Adams Letters: Being Chiefly a Correspondence Among John Adams, Samuel Adams, and James Warren ... 1743-1814
Create image

“Will you tell me how to prevent riches from producing luxury? Will you tell me how to prevent luxury from producing effeminacy, intoxication, extravagance, vice and folly?”

VirtueVicesRichesLuxuryFollyIntoxicationExtravagance
Book:The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
Create image

“Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree, that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all divines and moral philosophers will agree that the happiness of the individual is the end of man. From this principle it will follow that the form of government which communicates ease, comfort, security, or, in one word, happiness, to the greatest numbers of persons, and in the greatest degree, is the best. All sober inquirers after truth, ancient and modern, pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity, consists in virtue.”

MenWellsPersonsEndsGovernmentChristianFormIndividualNumbersMoralPrinciplesVirtueModernSecurityDivinePoliticianComfortDegreesDignityAgreeAncientPhilosopherCommunicateEaseSoberOne WordPaganForms Of GovernmentInquirers
Book:The Works of John Adams: Controversial papers of the Revolution (continued) Works on government
Create image