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John Adams Quotes - Page 3

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Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. It is in vain to say that democracy is less vain, less proud, less

Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. It is in vain to say that democracy is less vain, less proud, less selfish, less ambitious, or less avaricious than aristocracy or monarchy. It is not true, in fact, and nowhere appears in history. Those passions are the same in all men, under all forms of simple government, and when unchecked, produce the same effects of fraud, violence, and cruelty.

Suicide, Selfish, Passion

Letter to John Taylor, 15 Apr. 1814

We may please ourselves with the prospect of free and popular governments. But there is great danger that those governments will not make us happy. God grant they may. But I fear that in every assembly, members will obtain an influence by noise, not sense. By meanness, not greatness. By ignorance, not learning. By contracted hearts, not large souls.

Heart, Ignorance, Greatness

John Adams, Robert Joseph Taylor (1979). “Papers of John Adams”

He is too illiterate, unread, unlearned for his station and reputation.

Government, Reputation, Illiterate

The true source of our sufferings has been our timidity.

Suffering, Source, Dissertation

John Adams (2001). “The Political Writings of John Adams”, p.15, Regnery Publishing

Nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people. When the people give way, their deceivers, betrayers and destroyers press upon them so fast that there is no resisting afterwards. The nature of the encroachments is to, grow every day more encroaching; like a cancer, it eats faster and faster every hour.

Cancer, People, Giving

John Adams (1851). “The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.43

Before God, I believe the hour has come. My judgment approves this measure, and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it. And I leave off as I began, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying sentiment. Independence now, and Independence for ever!

Believe, Heart, Blessing

Liberty can no more exist without virtue and independence than the body can live and move without a soul.

Moving, Soul, Independence

John Adams, Daniel LEONARD, Jonathan SEWALL (1819). “Novanglus and Massachusettensis; or, political essays, published in ... 1774 and 1775, on the principal points of controversy, between Great Britain and her colonies; the former by John Adams ... the latter by Jonathan Sewall [or rather, Daniel Leonard] ... To which are added a number of letters lately written by President Adams to the Hon. William Tudor, etc”, p.25

Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.

Leadership, Character, Persistence

"I’ll Vote for That" by Katharine Rose, www.huffingtonpost.com. January 22, 2015.

That the desires of the majority of the people are often for injustice and inhumanity against the minority, is demonstrated by every page of the history of the world.

People, Democracy, Desire

John Adams (2015). “The Works of John Adams Vol. 6: Defence of the Constitution IV, Discourses on Davila”, p.43, Jazzybee Verlag

The appearance of religion only on Sunday proves that it is only an appearance.

Sunday, Appearance, Prove

[L]iberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood.

Freedom, Father, Blood

Joseph E. SPRAGUE, John Adams (1826). “An Eulogy on John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, etc”, p.36

Property monopolized or in the possession of a few is a curse to mankind.

Mankind, Possession, Curse

John Adams, Robert Joseph Taylor “Papers of John Adams”, Harvard University Press

The whole people must take upon themselves the education of the whole people, and must be willing to bear the expenses of it. There should not be a district of one mile square, without a school in it, not founded by a charitable individual, but maintained at the public expense of the people themselves.

Education, School, Squares

John Adams (1971). “The Works [of] John Adams, Second President of the United States: Official letters, messages, and public papers. Correspondence”

It would be an absurdity for jurors to be required to accept the judge's view of the law, against their own opinion, judgment, and conscience.

Views, Law, Judging

A government of laws, and not of men.

Men, Law, Presidential

"Novanglus Papers" no. 7 (1774). Almost certainly derived from James Harrington, but Adams's use of the phrase gave it wide circulation in the United States. He also used "government of laws, and not of men" in the Declaration of Rights drafted for the Massachusetts Constitution in 1780. See Cox 1; Gerald Ford 3; James Harrington 1

The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations.

Atheist, Believe, Fate

John Adams (2015). “The Works of John Adams Vol. 9: Letters and State Papers 1799 - 1811”, p.479, Jazzybee Verlag

The people, when they have been unchecked, have been as unjust, tyrannical, brutal, barbarous, and cruel, as any king or senate possessed of uncontrollable power. The majority has eternally, and without one exception, usurped over the rights of the minority.

Kings, Rights, People

John Adams, Charles Francis Adams (1851). “The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.10

But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations ... This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution.

Religious, Real, War

Letter to Hezekiah Niles, 13 Feb. 1818

Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion... in private self-defense.

Strength, Peace, Patriotic

People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity.

Adversity, Fire, People

Fear is the foundation of most governments.

Fear, Patriotic, Government

'Thoughts on Government' (1776)

I must study Politicks and War that my sons may have liberty to study Mathematicks and Philosophy. My sons ought to study Mathematicks and Philosophy, Geography, natural History, Naval Architecture, navigation, Commerce and Agriculture, in order to give their Children a right to study Painting, Poetry, Musick, Architecture, Statuary, Tapestry and Porcelaine. (12 May 1780)

Children, Philosophy, War

Letter to Abigail Adams, 12 May 1780

I am a revolutionary, so my son can be a farmer, so his son can be a poet.

Son, Revolutionary, Poet

Negro slavery is an evil of colossal magnitude.

Evil, Slavery, Magnitude

John Adams (1997). “Rivoluzioni e Costituzioni”, p.37, Guida Editori

An honest, sensible, humane man, . . . laboring to do good rather than be rich, to be useful rather than make a show, living in modest simplicity . . . is really the most respectable man in society, [and] makes himself and all about him most happy.

Money, Men, Simplicity

Born: October 30, 1735 - July 4, 1826
Occupation: 2nd U.S. President

Quotes: 406

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