John Adams

"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword. The other is by debt."

- John Adams

"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who, have a right …and a desire to know"

- John Adams

"Always stand on principle…even if you stand alone."

- 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

"I believe awesome things will happen. because it's Monday."

- John Adams

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

- John Adams

"It will be celebrated with pomp and parade, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other."

- John Adams

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

- John Adams

"There is nothing which I dread so much as a 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

"To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do."

- John Adams

""If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.""

- John Adams

"I must study politics and war, that my sons may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy…in order to give their children the right to study painting, poetry, and music."

- John Adams

"As good government is an empire of laws, how shall your laws be made? In a large society, inhabiting an extensive country, it is impossible that the whole should assemble to make laws. The first necessary step, then, is to depute power from the many to a few of the most wise and good."

- John Adams

"The way to secure liberty is to place it in the people’s hands, that is, to give them the power at all times to defend it in the legislature and in the courts of justice."

- John Adams

"Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives."

- John Adams

"“The way to secure liberty is to place it in the people’s hands, that is, to give them the power at all times to defend it in the legislature and in the courts of justice.”"

- John Adams

"You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it."

- John Adams

"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

"Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God … What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be."

- John Adams

"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."

- John Adams

"If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?"

- John Adams

"Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was de­bated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States."

- John Adams

"Liberty, according to my metaphysics, is a self-determining power in an intellectual agent. It implies thought and choice and power."

- John Adams

"Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood."

- John Adams

"But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever."

- John Adams