Occasional war is one of the rigorous instruments in the hands of Providence to give tone to the character of nations. John Quincy Adams More Quotes by John Quincy Adams More Quotes From John Quincy Adams Our Constitution professedly rests upon the good sense and attachment of the people. This basis, weak as it may appear, has not yet been found to fail. John Quincy Adams attachmentmaypeople Those who take oaths to politically powerful secret societies cannot be depended on for loyalty to a democratic republic. John Quincy Adams loyaltypowerfulsecret Let us consider an alternative style of thinking, which we can call 'creative thinking.' It is playfully instructive to note that the word 'reactive' and the word 'creative' are made up of exactly the same letters. The only difference between the two is that you 'C' [see] differently. John Quincy Adams differencestwothinking A stranger would think that the people of the United States had no other occupation than electioneering. John Quincy Adams united-statespeoplethinking This hand, to tyrants ever sworn the foe, For Freedom only deals the deadly blow; Then sheathes in calm repose the vengeful blade, For gentle peace in Freedom's hallowed shade. John Quincy Adams freedomblowpeace The Constitution had provided that all the public functionaries of the Union...should be under oath or affirmation for its support. The homage of religious faith was thus superadded to all the obligations of temporal law to give it strength. John Quincy Adams religiouslawgiving The attainment of knowledge is the high and exclusive attribute of man, among the numberless myriads of animated beings, inhabitants of the terrestrial globe. On him alone is bestowed, by the bounty of the Creator of the universe, the power and the capacity of acquiring knowledge. Knowledge is the attribute of his nature which at once enables him to improve his condition upon earth, and to prepare him for the enjoyment of a happier existence hereafter. John Quincy Adams earthmenscience A gentleman of one of the first fortunes upon the continent...sacrificing his ease, and hazarding all in the cause of his country. John Quincy Adams sacrificegentlemancountry Whether to the nation or to the state, no service can be or ever will be rendered by a more able or a more faithful public servant. John Quincy Adams faithfulablestates This mode of electioneering suited neither my taste nor my principles. I thought it equally unsuitable to my personal character and to the station in which I am placed. John Quincy Adams presidentialprinciplescharacter The declaration that our People are hostile to a government made by themselves, for themselves, and conducted by themselves, is an insult. John Quincy Adams insultgovernmentpeople There is nothing so deep and nothing so shallow which political enmity will not turn to account. John Quincy Adams enmitypresidentialpolitical But America is a great, unwieldy Body. Its Progress must be slow... Like a Coach and six - the swiftest Horses must be slackened and the slowest quickened, that all may keep an even Pace. John Quincy Adams progresshorseamerica To preserve, to improve, and to perpetuate the sources and to direct in their most effective channels the streams which contribute to the public weal is the purpose for which Government was instituted. John Quincy Adams sourcegovernmentpurpose I shall look for whatever success may attend my public service; and knowing that "except the Lord keep the city the watchman waketh but in vain," with fervent supplications for His favor, to His overruling providence I commit with humble but fearless confidence my own fate and the future destinies of my country. John Quincy Adams fatehumblecountry The mere title of lawyer is sufficient to deprive a man of the public confidence. ... The most innocent and irreproachable life cannot guard a lawyer against the hatred of his fellow citizens. John Quincy Adams titleshatredmen In the American hemisphere the cause of freedom and independence has continued to prevail, and if signalized by none of those splendid triumphs which had crowned with glory some of the preceding years it has only been from the banishment of all external force against which the struggle had been maintained. The shout of victory has been superseded by the expulsion of the enemy over whom it could have been achieved. John Quincy Adams independencestruggleyears I appear, my fellow-citizens, in your presence and in that of Heaven to bind myself by the solemnities of religious obligation to the faithful performance of the duties allotted to me in the station to which I have been called. John Quincy Adams faithfulreligiousheaven Patience and perserverence have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. John Quincy Adams Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak and that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws. John Quincy Adams
