"Arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken."
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Quote collection
Abigail Adams quotes (page 3 of 4)
62 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"You cannot know, should I discribe to you; the feelings of a parent . . . . Four years have already past away since you left your native land, and this rural Cottage-Humble indeed, when compared to the Palaces you have visited, and the pomp you have been witness to. But I dare say you have not been so inattentive an observer, as to suppose that Sweet peace, and contentment, cannot inhabit the lowly roof, and bless the tranquil inhabitants, equally guarded and protected, in person and property, in this happy Country, as those who reside in the most elegant and costly dwellings."
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"But let no person say what they would or would not do, since we are not judges for ourselves until circumstances call us to act."
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"Well, knowledge is a fine thing, and mother Eve thought so; but she smarted so severely for hers, that most of her daughters have been afraid of it since."
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"I feel anxious for the fate of our monarchy, or democracy, or whatever is to take place. I soon get lost in a labyrinth of perplexities; but, whatever occurs, may justice and righteousness be the stability of our times, and order arise out of confusion. Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance."
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"A little of what you call frippery is very necessary towards looking like the rest of the world."
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"Dark and sour humours, especially those which have a spice of malevolence in them, are vastly disagreeable. Such men have no music in their souls."
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"When men know not what to do, they ought not to do they know not what"
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"The house shakes...with the roar of the cannon. No sleep for me tonight."
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"Every object is beautiful in motion; a ship under sail, trees gently agitated with the wind, and a fine woman dancing, are three instances in point"
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"How difficult the task to quench the fire and the pride of private ambition, and to sacrifice ourselves and all our hopes and expectations to the public weal! How few have souls capable of so noble an undertaking!"
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"What is the history of mighty kingdoms and nations, but a detail of the ravages and cruelties of the powerful over the weak?"
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"The reins of government have been so long slackened, that I fear the people will not quietly submit to those restraints which are necessary for the peace and security of the community."
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"O, I have read his Heart in his wicked eyes many a time. The very devil is in them."
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"Men of sense in all ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your sex."
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"The only chance for much intellectual improvement in the female sex, was to be found in the families of the educated class and in occasional intercourse with the learned."
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"I can hear of the brilliant accomplishments of any of my sex with pleasure and rejoice in that liberality of sentiment which acknowledges them."
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"These are the times when a genius wants to live."
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"The great fish swallow up the small; and he who is most strenuous for the rights of the people, when vested with power, is as eager after the prerogatives of government."
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"I acknowledge myself a unitarian"
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