Expressions Plus

The article contains quotes from John Adams.

John Adams was the first vice-president and the second president of the United States of America. One of the founding members of America, Adams’ ancestry can be traced to the first Puritan settlers.

“The happiness of society is the end of government.” – John Adams

“The form of government, which communicates ease, comfort, security, or in one word happiness to the greatest number of persons, and in the greatest degree, is the best.” – John Adams

“All sober enquiries after truth, ancient and modern, pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity consists in virtue.” – John Adams

“Fear is the foundation of most governments; but is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men, in whose breasts it predominates, so stupid, and miserable, that Americans will not be likely to approve of any political institution which is founded on it.” – John Adams

“Honor is truly sacred, but holds a lower rank in the scale of moral excellence than virtue.” – John Adams

“… a Republic is the best of governments… to secure an impartial and exact execution of the laws….” – John Adams

“As good government is an empire of laws… the greatest care should be employed in constituting [the] Representative Assembly.” – John Adams

“The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people and every blessing of society, depends so much upon an upright and skillful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that.” – John Adams

“I think a people cannot be long free, nor ever happy, whose government is in one Assembly.” – John Adams

“Laws for the liberal education of youth, especially of the lower class of people, are so extremely wise and useful, that to a humane and generous mind, no expense for this purpose would be thought extravagant.” – John Adams

“I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.” – John Adams

“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.” – John Adams

“Gentlemen, I feel a great difficulty how to act. I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything.” – John Adams

“My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.” – John Adams Quote about the Vice-Presidency

“I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.” – John Adams Quote about the White House

“We live, my dear soul, in an age of trial. What will be the consequence, I know not.” – John Adams to Abigail Adams

“People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity.” – John Adams

“Now to what higher object, to what greater character, can any mortal aspire, than to be possessed of all this knowledge, well digested, and ready at command, to assist the feeble and friendless, to discountenance the haughty and lawless, to procure redress of wrongs, the advancement of right, to assert and maintain liberty and virtue, to discourage and abolish tyranny and vice.” – John Adams

“Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak and write.” – John Adams

“Love sweetens life, and life sometimes destroys love.” – John Adams

“Pray continue to write me, by every opportunity, for next to conversation, correspondence with you is the greatest pleasure in the world.” – John Adams to Abigail Adams

“My head is clear, and my heart is at ease. Business of every kind, I have banished from my thoughts.” – John Adams with Smallpox in a Hospital

“Now to what higher object, to what greater character, can any mortal aspire, than to be possessed of all this knowledge, well digested, and ready at command, to assist the feeble and friendless, to discountenance the haughty and lawless, to procure redress of wrongs, the advancement of right, to assert and maintain liberty and virtue, to discourage and abolish tyranny and vice.” – John Adams

“I will inclose to you a Declaration, in which all America is remarkably united…. It compleats a revolution, which will make as good a figure in the history of mankind….” – John Adams

“Letters, like conversation, should be free, easy, and familiar. Simplicity and familiarity are the characteristicks of this kind of writing.” – John Adams

“The destiny of America is to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to all men everywhere.” – John Adams

“We recognize no sovereign but God, no king but Jesus.” – John Adams

“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

“Individuals have conquered themselves. Nations and large bodies of men, never.” – John Adams

“To believe all men honest is folly. To believe none is something worse.” – John Adams

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