The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries. John Adams More Quotes by John Adams More Quotes From John Adams Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. John Adams religiousgodbible Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it. John Adams safetyclassmen There is nothing I dread so much as the division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our constitution. John Adams partygovernmenthumble Always stand on principle even if you stand alone. John Adams stand-alonepoliticsprinciples There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt. John Adams debttwocountry One useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three is a Congress. John Adams lawmentwo Power always thinks... that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws. John Adams warpeacethinking When economic power became concentrated in a few hands, then political power flowed to those possessors and away from the citizens, ultimately resulting in an oligarchy or tyranny. John Adams citizenspoliticalhands As the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen [Muslims] ... it is declared ... that no pretext arising from religious opinion shall ever product an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.... The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Jewish or a Mohammedan nation. John Adams religiouschristiancountry Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. John Adams suicidalfreedomsuicide But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. John Adams presidentialgovernmentforever Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it. John Adams patrioticfreedomhistory We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other. John Adams passionrevengereligious Be not intimidated... nor suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberties by any pretense of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These, as they are often used, are but three different names for hypocrisy, chicanery and cowardice. John Adams hypocrisysufferingnames The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing. John Adams freedompowerwriting Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence: nor is the law less stable than the fact. John Adams patrioticpassionlaw Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom. John Adams patrioticfreedomchildren [D]emocracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes and no man's life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one of these will soon mould itself into a system of subordination of all the moral virtues and intellectual abilities, all the powers of wealth, beauty, wit and science, to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, and the execrable cruelty of one or a very few. John Adams eyeintellectualmen 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! John Adams blessingheartbelieve Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. John Adams freedomgovernmentforever
