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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

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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
Advanced
Littles
Understood
Government
Thousand
Better
Liberty
Little
Politics
Years
Four
Standstill
Society
Practiced
Three
Sciences

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I am a revolutionary, so my son can be a farmer, so his son can be a poet.
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National defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman, and that there is an obligation to perform such a duty absolutely irrespective of party politics or factional differences.
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Borrowed eloquence, if it contains as good stuff, is as good as own eloquence
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The law no passion can disturb. 'Tis void of desire and fear, lust and anger. 'Tis mens sine affectu, written reason, retaining some measure of the divine perfection. It does not enjoin that which pleases a weak, frail man, but, without any regard to persons, commands that which is good and punishes evil in all, whether rich or poor, high or low.
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Individuals have conquered themselves. Nations and large bodies of men, never.
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If we take a survey of the greatest actions...in the world...we shall find the authors of them all to have been persons whose Brains had been shaken out of their natural position.
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I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world.
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Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.
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Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics.
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Mr. Jefferson has reason to reflect upon himself. How he will get rid of his remorse in his retirement, I know not. He must know that he leaves the government infinitely worse than he found it, and that from his own error or ignorance.
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If there is a form of government, then, whose principle and foundation is virtue, will not every sober man acknowledge it better calculated to promote the general happiness than any other form?
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Nothing is more dreaded than the national government meddling with religion.
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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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Farther I could find it in my heart to wish that you had been at the head of a hundred thousand Israelites . . . & marching with them into Judea & making a conquest of that country & restoring your nation to the dominion of it. For I really wish the Jews again in Judea an independent nation.
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Let us dare to read, think, speak and write.
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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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Always stand on principle even if you stand alone.
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There are persons whom in my heart I despise, others I abhor. Yet I am not obliged to inform the one of my contempt, nor the other of my detestation. This kind of dissimulation...is a necessary branch of wisdom, and so far from being immoral...that it is a duty and a virtue.
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I had heard my father say that he never knew a piece of land run away or break.
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Property must be secured, or liberty cannot exist.
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