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Arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken.

Abigail Adams

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Abigail Adams
Age: 73 †
Born: 1744
Born: November 22
Died: 1818
Died: October 28
First Lady
Politician
Weymouth
Massachusetts
Abigail Smith
Abigail Smith Adams
Hard
Things
Like
Liable
Arbitrary
Broken
Politics
Power

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I feel anxious for the fate of our monarchy, or democracy, or whatever is to take place. I soon get lost in a labyrinth of perplexities but, whatever occurs, may justice and righteousness be the stability of our times, and order arise out of confusion. Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.
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The only chance for much intellectual improvement in the female sex, was to be found in the families of the educated class and in occasional intercourse with the learned.
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We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.
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Deliver me from your cold phlegmatic preachers, politicians, friends, lovers and husbands.
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I acknowledge myself a unitarian
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Great necessities call out great virtues.
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If we mean to have heroes, statesmen and philosophers, we should have learned women.
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May your mind be thoroughly impressed with the absolute necessity of universal virtue and goodness, as the only sure road to happiness, and may you walk therein with undeviating steps.
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A patriot without religion in my estimation is as great a paradox as an honest Man without the fear of God. Is it possible that he whom no moral obligations bind, can have any real Good Will towards Men?
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The great fish swallow up the small and he who is most strenuous for the rights of the people, when vested with power, is as eager after the prerogatives of government.
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I hope some future day will bring me the happiness of seeing my family again collected under our own roof, happy in ourselves and blessed in each other.
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When men know not what to do, they ought not to do they know not what
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Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could.
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A people fired ... with love of their country and of liberty, a zeal for the public good, and a noble emulation of glory, will not be disheartened or dispirited by a succession of unfortunate events. But like them, may we learn by defeat the power of becoming invincible.
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Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.
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When he is wounded, I bleed. {page 262 of John Adams}
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These are the times when a genius wants to live.
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I am more and more convinced that man is a dangerous creature.
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My bursting heart must find vent at my pen.
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History is not a web woven with innocent hands. Among all the causes which degrade and demoralize men, power is the most constant and most active.
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