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Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.

John Adams

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John Adams
Age: 90 †
Born: 1735
Born: October 19
Died: 1826
Died: July 4
2Nd U.S. President
Diplomat
Lawyer
Political Philosopher
Politician
Statesperson
Braintree
Massachusetts
President Adams
J. Adams
President John Adams
Political
Factions
Government
Division
Great
Instrument
Abuse
Instruments
Party
Chicanery
Society
Sophistry
Words
Faction

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It is weakness rather than wickedness which renders men unfit to be trusted with unlimited power.
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America is destined to be peopled by one nation, speaking one language, professing one general system of religious and political principles, and accustomed to one general tenor of social usages and customs.
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They shall not be expected to acknowledge us until we have acknowledged ourselves.
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The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity
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Property is surely a right of mankind as real as liberty.
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I am determined to control events, not be controlled by them.
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Negro slavery is an evil of colossal magnitude.
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When you see a good move, sit on your hands and find a better one.
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I do not like the reappearance of the Jesuits... Nevertheless, we are compelled by our system of religious toleration to offer them an asylum.
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What other form of government, indeed, can so well deserve our esteem and love?
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I am quite content to come home and go to Farming, be a select Man, and owe no Man any Thing but good Will. There I can get a little health and teach my Boys to be Lawyers.
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The History of our Revolution will be one continued Lye from one End to the other. The Essence of the whole will be that Dr Franklins electrical Rod, Smote the Earth and out Spring General Washington. That Franklin electrified him with his Rod - and thence forward these two conducted all the Policy Negotiations Legislation and War.
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The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries.
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We electors have an important constitutional power placed in our hands we have a check upon two branches of the legislature.
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A pen is certainly an excellent instrument to fix a man's attention and to inflame his ambition.
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If the way to do good to my country were to render myself popular, I could easily do it. But extravagant popularity is not the road to public advantage.
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Ambition is one of the ungovernable passions of the human heart. The love of power is insatiable and uncontrollable.
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The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the law of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.
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Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.
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