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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.

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
Ends
Begins
Ravenous
Power
Slavery
Annuals
Without
Humility
Annual
Every
Election
Elections
Men
Becomes
Prey
Politics
Moderation
Term
Beast
Political
Patience

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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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My country has contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.
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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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Make Things rather than Persons the subjects of conversations.
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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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This is a revolution, damn it! We're going to have to offend somebody!
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Mystery is made a convenient Cover for absurdity.
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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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The law no passion can disturb. 'Tis void of desire and fear, lust and anger. 'Tis mens sine affectu, written reason, retaining some measure of the divine perfection. It does not enjoin that which pleases a weak, frail man, but, without any regard to persons, commands that which is good and punishes evil in all, whether rich or poor, high or low.
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We hold that each man is the best judge of his own interest.
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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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Let the human mind loose. It must be loose. It will be loose. Superstition and dogmatism cannot confine it.
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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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America is destined to be peopled by one nation, speaking one language, professing one general system of religious and political principles, and accustomed to one general tenor of social usages and customs.
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I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.
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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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You will ever remember that all the end of study is to make you a good man and a useful citizen.
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Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics.
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He is too illiterate, unread, unlearned for his station and reputation.
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Nothing is more dreaded than the national government meddling with religion.
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