John Adams Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old John Adams quotes, John Adams sayings, and John Adams proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.'

Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak. John Adams
This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religions in it. John Adams
A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved, and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man. John Adams
To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do. John Adams
Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people. John Adams
Government is nothing more than the combined force of society, or the united power of the multitude, for the peace, order, safety, good and happiness of the people. John Adams
There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty. John Adams
As the happiness of the people is the sole end of government, so the consent of the people is the only foundation of it. John Adams
While all other sciences have advanced, that of government is at a standstill - little better understood, little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago. John Adams
To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do. John Adams
Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society. John Adams
If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve? John Adams
Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society. John Adams
Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people. John Adams
I believe awesome things will happen. because it's Monday. John Adams
Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion in private self defense. John Adams
The balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. John Adams
We shall, by and by, want a world of hemp more for our own consumption. John Adams
My country has contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived. John Adams
Popularity, next to virtue and wisdom, ought to be aimed at; for it is the dictate of wisdom, and is necessary to the practice of virtue inmost. John Adams
A pen is certainly an excellent instrument to fix a man's attention and to inflame his ambition. John Adams
The appearance of religion only on Sunday proves that it is only an appearance. John Adams
Did you ever see a portrait of a great man without perceiving strong traits of pain and anxiety? 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
But a Constitution of Government once changed from freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. John Adams
It is wrong to admit into the Constitution the idea that there can be property in man. John Adams
The happiness of society is the end of government. John Adams
Let the pulpit resound with the doctrine and sentiments of religious liberty. Let us hear of the dignity of man’s nature, and the noble rank he holds among the works of God...Let it be known that British liberties are not the grants of princes and parliaments. John Adams
We should begin by setting conscience free. When all men of all religions...shall enjoy equal liberty, property, and an equal chance for honors and power...we may expect that improvements will be made in the human character and the state of society. John Adams
Government has no right to hurt a hair of the head of an atheist for his opinions. Let him have a care of his practices. John Adams