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[I] never understood [what a republican government was and] I believe no other man ever did or ever will.

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
Men
Republican
Understood
America
Government
Ever
Believe
Never

More quotes by John Adams

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When economic power became concentrated in a few hands, then political power flowed to those possessors and away from the citizens, ultimately resulting in an oligarchy or tyranny.
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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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Let every sluice of knowledge be opened and set a-flowing.
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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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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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The fundamental article of my political creed is that despotism, or limited sovereignty, or absolute power is the same [whether] in a majority of a popular assembly an aristocratic council or oligarchical junto and a single emperor - equally arbitrary, cruel, bloody and in every respect diabolical.
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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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One useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three is a Congress.
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You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket.
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I wish I could lay down beside her and die too.
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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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Individuals have conquered themselves. Nations and large bodies of men, never.
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This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.
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What is to become of an independent statesman, one who will bow the knee to no idol, who will worship nothing as a divinity but truth, virtue, and his country? I will tell you he will be regarded more by posterity than those who worship hounds and horses and although he will not make his own fortune, he will make the fortune of his country.
John Adams
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In every society where property exists there will ever be a struggle between rich and poor. Mixed in one assembly, equal laws can never be expected they will either be made by the member to plunder the few who are rich, or by the influence to fleece the many who are poor.
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The only way to form an army to be confided in, was a systematic discipline, by which means all men may be made heroes.
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Let us dare to read, think, speak and write.
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Riches attract attention, consideration, and congratulations of mankind.
John Adams
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All great changes are irksome to the human mind, especially those which are attended with great dangers and uncertain effects.
John Adams