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Popularity, next to virtue and wisdom, ought to be aimed at for it is the dictate of wisdom, and is necessary to the practice of virtue inmost.

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
Popularity
Necessary
Ought
Virtue
Wisdom
Practice
Inmost
Next
Aimed
Dictate

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Negro slavery is an evil of colossal magnitude.
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The destiny of America is to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to all men everywhere.
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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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There is nothing I dread so much as the division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our constitution.
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When you see a good move, sit on your hands and find a better one.
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Here is everything which can lay hold of the eye, ear and imagination - everything which can charm and bewitch the simple and ignorant. I wonder how Luther ever broke the spell.
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Several country towns, within my observation, have at least a dozen taverns. Here the time, the money, the health and the modesty, of most that are young and of many old, are wasted. Here diseases, vicious habits, bastards and legislators are frequently spawned.
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Shall we have recourse to the art of printing? But this has not destroyed property or aristocracy or corporations or paper wealth in England or America, or diminished the influence of either on the contrary, it has multiplied aristocracy and diminished democracy.
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I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.
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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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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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We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.
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As the happiness of the people is the sole end of government, so the consent of the people is the only foundation of it.
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I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize man than any other nation.
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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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A pen is certainly an excellent instrument to fix a man's attention and to inflame his ambition.
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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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We shall, by and by, want a world of hemp more for our own consumption.
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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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Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it.
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