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Human passions unbridled by morality and religion...would break the stronges cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net.

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
Goes
Break
Unbridled
Passion
Whale
Religion
Cords
Human
Whales
Humans
Passions
Would
Morality
Constitution

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The rights of Englishmen are derived from God, not from king or Parliament, and would be secured by the study of history, law, and tradition.
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There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.
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God is an essence that we know nothing of. Until this awful blasphemy is got rid of, there never will be any liberal science in the world.
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Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.
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I have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have consented to my own ruin, to your ruin, and to the ruin of our children. I give you this warning that you may prepare your mind for your fate.
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Mankind will in time discover that unbridled majorities are as tyrannical and cruel as unlimited despots.
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The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation: The doctrine of a supreme, intelligent sovereign of the universe, I believe to be the great essential principle of all morality, and consequently of all civilization.
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[You have Rights] antecedent to all earthly governments: Rights, that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws Rights, derived from the Great Legislator of the universe.
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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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I am a revolutionary, so my son can be a farmer, so his son can be a poet.
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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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Nothing is more dreaded than the national government meddling with religion.
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Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.
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The universal object and idol of men of letters is reputation.
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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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Power always thinks... that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws.
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Where annual elections end, there slavery begins ... Humility, patience, and moderation, without which every man in power becomes a ravenous beast of prey.
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When philosophic reason is clear and certain by intuition or necessary induction, no subsequent revelation supported by prophecies or miracles can supersede it.
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Let us dare to read, think, speak and write.
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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.
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