If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve? John Adams More Quotes by John Adams More Quotes From John Adams The law no passion can disturb. 'Tis void of desire and fear, lust and anger. 'Tis mens sine affectu, written reason, retaining some measure of the divine perfection. It does not enjoin that which pleases a weak, frail man, but, without any regard to persons, commands that which is good and punishes evil in all, whether rich or poor, high or low. John Adams passionlawmen 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. John Adams selfmenhands This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it. John Adams if-there-is-a-godatheistreligious I read my Eyes out, and cant read half enough neither. The more one reads the more one sees We have to read. John Adams inspiringmotivationalinspirational God is an essence that we know nothing of. Until this awful blasphemy is got rid of, there never will be any liberal science in the world. John Adams awfulessenceworld I have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have consented to my own ruin, to your ruin, and to the ruin of our children. I give you this warning that you may prepare your mind for your fate. John Adams fategivingchildren Liberty, according to my metaphysics is a self-determining power in an intellectual agent. It implies thought and choice and power. John Adams freedompowerself You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket. John Adams life-and-lovelibertypoetry Slavery is a foul contagion in the human character. John Adams foulslaverycharacter What other form of government, indeed, can so well deserve our esteem and love? John Adams formgovernmentlove It's of more importance to community that innocence should be protected than it is that guilt should be punished John Adams innocencecommunityguilt If national pride is ever justifiable or excusable it is when it springs, not from power or riches, grandeur or glory, but from conviction of national innocence, information and benevolence. John Adams pridepresidentspring Politics are a labyrinth without a clue. John Adams labyrinthpoliticspolitical The Holy Ghost carries on the whole Christian system in this earth. Not a Baptism, not a Marriage, not a Sacrament can be administered but by the Holy Ghost... There is no Authority civil or religious: there can be no legitimate Government but what is administered by this Holy Ghost. There can be no salvation without it. All, without it is Rebellion and Perdition, or in more orthodox words Damnation. John Adams governmentreligiouschristian A single assembly will never be a steady guardian of the laws, if Machiavel is right, when he says, Men are never good but through necessity: on the contrary, when good and evil are left to their choice, they will not fail to throw every thing into disorder and confusion. Hunger and poverty may make men industrious, but laws only can make them good; for, if men were so of themselves, there would be no occasion for laws; but, as the case is far otherwise, they are absolutely necessary. John Adams hunger-and-povertylawmen The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God. John Adams religiousgodbible The Europeans are all deeply tainted with prejudices, both ecclesiastical and temporal, which they can never get rid of. They are all infected with episcopal and presbyterian creeds, and confessions of faith. They all believe that great Principle which has produced this boundless universe, Newton's universe and Herschell's universe, came down to this little ball, to be spit upon by Jews. And until this awful blasphemy is got rid of, there never will be any liberal science in the world. John Adams prejudiceprinciplesbelieve Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people. John Adams freedomeducationknowledge The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature. . . . [In] the formation of the American governments . . . it will never be pretended that any persons employed in that service had interviews with the gods, or were in any degree under the influence of heaven. . . . These governments were contrived merely by the use of reason and the senses. John Adams governmentsimpleamerica Let us dare to read, think, speak and write. John Adams suicidemotivationalinspirational
