John Adams

John Adams

Founding Father, Politician

John Adams was a Founding Father and the second President of the United States, known for his role in drafting the Declaration of Independence and advocating for liberty.

Men Government Law People Religious Liberty
Born
October 30, 1735
Died
July 4, 1826
Quotes
406
Rank
#3377

Quote collection

John Adams quotes (page 3 of 21)

406 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

John Adams Founding Father, Politician
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"You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. — I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. — Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not."

Trust Mean Thinking
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John Adams Founding Father, Politician
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"Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases."

Leadership Character Persistence
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"As the happiness of the people is the sole end of government, so the consent of the people is the only foundation of it."

Government People Foundation
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"The most sensible and jealous people are so little attentive to government that there are no instances of resistance until repeated, multiplied oppressions have placed it beyond a doubt that their rulers had formed settled plans to deprive them of their liberties; not to oppress an individual or a few, but to break down the fences of a free constitution, and deprive the people at large of all share in the government, and all the checks by which it is limited."

Jealous Government People
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"In every society where property exists there will ever be a struggle between rich and poor. Mixed in one assembly, equal laws can never be expected; they will either be made by the member to plunder the few who are rich, or by the influence to fleece the many who are poor."

Struggle Law Influence
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"The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to know...Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly [with your God]. This is enough."

Thinking Mercy Enough
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"We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus!"

Bible God Religious
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"As unbalanced parties of every description can never tolerate a free inquiry of any kind, when employed against themselves, the license, and even the most temperate freedom of the press, soon excite resentment and revenge."

Revenge Party Inquiry
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"The only thing most people do better than anyone else is read their own handwriting."

People Handwriting
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"The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the law of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence."

Ideas Law Justice
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"Property monopolized or in the possession of a few is a curse to mankind."

Mankind Possession Curse
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"Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order."

Motivational Horse Exercise
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"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
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"Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people."

Education Freedom Knowledge
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"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
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"There are persons whom in my heart I despise, others I abhor. Yet I am not obliged to inform the one of my contempt, nor the other of my detestation. This kind of dissimulation...is a necessary branch of wisdom, and so far from being immoral...that it is a duty and a virtue."

Heart Branches Kind
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