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Set before us the conduct of our own British ancestors, who defended for us the inherent rights of mankind against foreign and domestic tyrants and usurpers, against arbitrary kings and cruel priests in short against the gates of earth and hell.

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
Mankind
Cruel
Usurpers
Hell
Inherent
Defended
Rights
Priests
Ancestors
Earth
Gates
Ancestor
Foreign
Arbitrary
British
Domestic
Kings
Tyrants
Short
Conduct

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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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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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Power in any Form . . . when directed only by human Wisdom and Benevolence is dangerous.
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The destiny of America is to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to all men everywhere.
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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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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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A pen is certainly an excellent instrument to fix a man's attention and to inflame his ambition.
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The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity
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[I] never understood [what a republican government was and] I believe no other man ever did or ever will.
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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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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 electors have an important constitutional power placed in our hands we have a check upon two branches of the legislature.
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We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus!
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Always stand on principle even if you stand alone.
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Had I been chosen President again, I am certain I could not have lived another year.
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I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.
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The way to secure liberty is to place it in the people's hands, that is, to give them the power at all times to defend it in the legislature and in the courts of justice.
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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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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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I shall have the liberty to think for myself.
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