Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by John Adams

Quote by John Adams

“If Aristotle, Livy, and Harrington knew what a republic was, the British constitution is much more like a republic than an empire. They define a republic to be a government of laws, and not of men. If this definition is just, the British constitution is nothing more or less than a republic, in which the king is first magistrate. This office being hereditary, and being possessed of such ample and splendid prerogatives, is no objection to the government's being a republic, as long as it is bound by fixed laws, which the people have a voice in making, and a right to defend.”

Quote by John Adams

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

Work

The Works of John Adams Vol. 4: Novanglus, Thoughts on Government, Defence of the Constitution I

The fourth volume of The Works of John Adams presents a collection of essays written by the Founding Father John Adams. These essays, including Novanglus, Thoughts on Government, and Defence of the Constitution I, delve into the political philosophy and historical context of the American Revolution, offering insights into Adams' views on governance and the formation of the United States Constitution. 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

“Whilst America hath been the land of promise to Europeans, and their descendants, it hath been the vale of death to millions of the wretched sons of Africa... Whilst we were offering up vows at the shrine of Liberty... whilst we swore irreconcilable hostility to her enemies... whilst we adjured the God of Hosts to witness our resolution to live free or die... we were imposing on our fellow men, who differ in complexion from us, a slavery, ten thousand times more cruel than the utmost extremity of those grievances and oppressions, of which we complained.”

MenAmericaDiesLibertyEnemyMillionsLandSonPromiseThousandTenFellowsSlaveryOppressionWitnessResolutionHostOfferingWretchedFellow ManHostilityVowImposingDescendantsGrievanceShrinesComplexionExtremityLive Free
Author:St. George Tucker
Create image

“No power but Congress can declare war; but what is the value of this constitutional provision, if the President of his own authority may make such military movements as must bring on war? ... [T]hese remarks originate purely in a desire to maintain the powers of government as they are established by the Constitution between the different departments, and hope that, whether we have conquests or no conquests, war or no war, peace or no peace, we shall yet preserve, in its integrity and strength, the Constitution of the United States.”

IfsMayDifferentWarStatesGovernmentDesireValuesPresidentUnitedUnited StatesMilitaryMovementIntegrityAuthorityConstitutionCongressPreservesDepartmentConquestRemarksProvisionPeace WarNo WarConstitution Of The United States
Author:Daniel Webster
Create image

“Civil rights, as we may remember, are reducible to three primary heads; the right of personal security; the right of personal liberty; and the right of private property. In a state of slavery, the two last are wholly abolished, the person of the slave being at the absolute disposal of his master; and property, what he is incapable, in that state, either of acquiring, or holding, in his own use. Hence, it will appear how perfectly irreconcilable a state of slavery is to the principles of a democracy, which form the basis and foundation of our government.”

MayPersonsTwoStatesUseGovernmentLastsRememberFormThreeLibertyPrinciplesDemocracyRightsSecurityMastersBasesAbsolutesFoundationSlaveryPropertySlaveCivil RightsPrimariesIncapablePrivate PropertyPersonal LibertyPersonal Security
Book:A Dissertation on Slavery: With a Proposal for the Gradual Abolition of it in the State of Virginia
Create image

“Instead of the Government spending $400,000 on immunisation, we may get far better health outcomes if we spend $100,000 in some other way, on nutrition for example...When you have an expenditure on getting your community healthier, then the resistance to many childhood diseases is stronger.”

IfsWayMayGovernmentCommunityChildhoodExampleDiseaseStrongerSpendingResistanceOutcomesNutritionVaccinesExpendituresGovernment SpendingVaccinationsImmunisation
Author:Michael Moore
Create image