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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.

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
Ideas
Public
Founding
Justice
Tyranny
Law
Economics
Society
Capitalism
Moment
Sacred
Commence
Idea
Property
Admitted
Force
Protect
Anarchy
Moments
Liberty
Founders

More quotes by John Adams

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Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.
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There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth: those with the commitment, and those who require the commitment of others.
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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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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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In days of yore, the poet's pen From wing of bird was plunder'd, Perhaps of goose, but now and then, From Jove's own eagle sunder'd. But now, metallic pens disclose Alone the poet's numbers In iron inspiration glows, Or with the poet slumbers.
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I am determined to control events, not be controlled by them.
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Ambition is the subtlest beast of the intellectual and moral field. It is wonderfully adroit in concealing itself from its owner.
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All great changes are irksome to the human mind, especially those which are attended with great dangers and uncertain effects.
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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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I desire no other inscription over my gravestone than: 'Here lies John Adams, who took upon himself the responsibility of peace with France in the year 1800'.
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Vanity, I am sensible, is my cardinal vice and cardinal folly and I am in continual danger, when in company, of being led an ignis fatuus chase by it.
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Resistance to sudden violence, for the preservation not only of my person, my limbs, and life, but of my property, is an indisputable right of nature which I have never surrendered to the public by the compact of society, and which perhaps, I could not surrender if I would.
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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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My God! This is a revolution! We have to offend someone!
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Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.
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I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize man than any other nation.
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[L]iberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood.
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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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Ambition is one of the ungovernable passions of the human heart. The love of power is insatiable and uncontrollable.
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Negro slavery is an evil of colossal magnitude.
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