"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
"Here, every private person is authorized to arm himself, and on the strength of this authority, I do not deny the inhabitants had a right to arm themselves at that time, for their defense, not for offense."
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Source: Legal Papers of John Adams. Book edited by L. Kinvin Wroth and Hiller B. Zobel, 3:248, 1965.
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"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."
"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt."
"Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."
"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."
"Always stand on principle even if you stand alone."