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If the way to do good to my country were to render myself popular, I could easily do it. But extravagant popularity is not the road to public advantage.

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
Political
Render
Country
Popularity
Way
Popular
Good
Easily
Road
Advantage
Public
Politics
Extravagant

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Each individual of the society has a right to be protected by it in the enjoyment of his life, liberty, and property, according to standing laws.
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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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Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.
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Honor is truly sacred, but holds a lower rank in the scale of moral excellence than virtue. Indeed the former is part of the latter, and consequently has not equal pretensions to support a frame of government productive of human happiness.
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I do not like the reappearance of the Jesuits... Nevertheless, we are compelled by our system of religious toleration to offer them an asylum.
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I wish I could lay down beside her and die too.
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I am determined to control events, not be controlled by them.
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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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No good government but what is republican... the very definition of a republic is 'an empire of laws, and not of men.'
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If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?
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Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion... in private self-defense.
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Whenever serious art loses track of its roots in the vernacular, then it begins to atrophy.
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I must not write a word to you about politics, because you are a woman.
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Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and I shall die abhorring.
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There is not an enemy so stout, as to storm and take the fortress of the mind, Unless its infirmity turn traitor, and Fear unbar the gates.
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They shall not be expected to acknowledge us until we have acknowledged ourselves.
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The only thing most people do better than anyone else is read their own handwriting.
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