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John Adams Quotations
These John Adams Quotations are taken from his own letters and writings from
the years 1811-1816. Many of them are from letters written to Thomas Jefferson. This
was after the period when they were enemies and had restored their friendship. Much
of their discussion centered on religion. Other topics covered in these John
Adams Quotations include Adams' criticism
for the abuses of Catholicism in Europe, his faith in the Bible and the futility of
a government by the people without morality to guide their decisions. Each of these
John Adams Quotations is listed chronologically and there are links to more
before and after this period at the bottom of the page.
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John Adams |
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John Adams Quotations
"The Declaration of Independence I always considered as a Theatrical Show.
Jefferson ran away with all the stage effect of that; i.e. all the Glory of
it." - Letter to Benjamin Rush, June 21, 1811
"Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not only of republicanism
and of all free government, but of social felicity under all governments
and in all the combinations of human society." - Letter to Dr. Benjamin
Rush, August 28, 1811
"It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon
which freedom can securely stand. Religion and virtue are the only foundations...
of republicanism and all free governments." - Letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush,
August 28, 1811
"The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were...
the general principles of Christianity. ...I will avow that I then believed,
and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal
and immutable as the existence and attributes of God." - Letter to Thomas
Jefferson, June 28, 1813
"Who composed that army of fine young fellows that was then before my eyes?
There were among them Roman Catholics, English Episcopalians, Scotch and
American Presbyterians, Methodists, Moravians, Anabaptists, German Lutherans,
German Calvinists, Universalists, Arians, Priestleyans, Socinians, Independents,
Congregationalists, Horse Protestants, and House Protestants, Deists and
Atheists, and Protestants "qui ne croyent rien." Very few, however, of several
of these species; nevertheless, all educated in the general principles of
Christianity, and the general principles of English and American liberty.
Could my answer be understood by any candid reader or hearer, to recommend to
all the others the general principles, institutions, or systems of education
of the Roman Catholics, or those of the Quakers, or those of the Presbyterians,
or those of the Methodists, or those of the Moravians, or those of the Universalists,
or those of the Philosophers? No. The general principles on which the fathers
achieved independence, were the only principles in which that beautiful assembly
of young men could unite, and these principles only could be intended by them
in their address, or by me in my answer. And what were these general principles?
I answer, the general principles of Christianity, in which all those sects were
united, and the general principles of English and American liberty, in which all
those young men united, and which had united all parties in America, in majorities
sufficient to assert and maintain her independence. Now I will avow, that I then
believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as
eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God; and that those
principles of liberty are as unalterable as human nature and our terrestrial,
mundane system. I could, therefore safely say, consistently with all my then
and present information, that I believed they would never make discoveries in
contradiction to these general principles." - Letter to Thomas Jefferson,
July 9, 1813
"You and I ought not to die before we have explained ourselves to each other."
- Letter to Thomas Jefferson, July 13, 1813
Need some more John Adams
Quotations? Read on!
John Adams
Presidential Coin
"When I was in England from 1785 to 1788, I may say I was intimate with Dr.
Price. I had much conversation with him at his own house, at my
houses, and at the house and tables of many friends. In some of our most
unreserved conversations when we have been alone, he has repeatedly said
to me, "I am inclined to believe that the Universe is eternal and infinite.
It seems to me that an eternal and infinite effect must necessarily flow
from an eternal and infinite Cause; and an infinite Wisdom, Goodness, and
Power that could have been induced to produce a Universe in time must have
produced it from eternity. It seems to me, the effect must flow from the
Cause."
Now, my friend Jefferson, suppose an eternal, self-existent being, existing
from eternity, possessed of infinite wisdom, goodness, and power, in absolute,
total solitude, six thousand years ago conceiving the benevolent project of
creating a universe! I have no more to say at present. It has been long,
very long, a settled opinion in my mind, that there is now, ever will be,
and ever was, but one being who can understand the universe, and that it
is not only vain but wicked for insects to pretend to comprehend it."
- Letter to Thomas Jefferson, September 14, 1818
"He may long continue to live and be well; and to see the good work of the
War prospering in his hands; for a more necessary War, was never undertaken.
It is necessary against England; necessary to convince France that we are
something: and above all necessary to convince ourselves, that we are not,
Nothing." - Letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, October 8, 1813
"Indeed, Mr. Jefferson, what could be invented to debase the ancient
Christianism, which Greeks, Romans, Hebrews and Christian factions, above
all the Catholics, have not fraudulently imposed upon the public? Miracles
after miracles have rolled down in torrents, wave succeeding wave in the
Catholic church, from the Council of Nice, and long before, to this day."
- Letter to Thomas Jefferson, December 3, 1813
"Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their
only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts
there exhibited. ...What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be.
I have examined all... and the result is that the Bible is the best Book in
the world. It contains more of my little philosophy than all the libraries
I have seen." - Letter to Thomas Jefferson, December 25, 1813
"I have examined all religions, as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened
means, and my busy life, would allow; and the result is that the Bible is
the best Book in the world. It contains more philosophy than all the libraries
I have seen." - Letter to Thomas Jefferson, December 25, 1813
"Remember democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders
itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide." - Letter
to John Taylor, April 15, 1814
Read on for more great
John Adams Quotations
"Liberty, according to my metaphysics, is an intellectual quality, an
attribute that belongs not to fate nor chance. Neither possesses it,
neither is capable of it. There is nothing moral or immoral in the idea
of it. The definition of it is a self-determining power in an intellectual
agent. It implies thought and choice and power; it can elect between objects,
indifferent in point of morality, neither morally good nor morally evil."
- Letter to John Taylor, April 15, 1814
"If the Christian religion, as I understand it, or as you understand it,
should maintain its ground, as I believe it will, yet Platonic, Pythagoric,
Hindoo, and cabalistical Christianity, which is Catholic Christianity, and
which has prevailed for 1500 years, has received a mortal wound, of which
the monster must finally die. Yet so strong is his constitution, that he
may endure for centuries before he expires." - Letter to Thomas Jefferson,
July 16, 1814
"As long as Property exists, it will accumulate in Individuals and Families.
As long as Marriage exists, Knowledge, Property and Influence will accumulate
in Families." - Letter to Thomas Jefferson, July 16, 1814
"National defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman." - Letter
to James Lloyd, January, 1815
"If there is ever an amelioration of the condition of mankind, philosophers,
theologians, legislators, politicians and moralists will find that the regulation
of the press is the most difficult, dangerous and important problem they have to
resolve. Mankind cannot now be governed without it, nor at present with it."
- Letter to James Lord, February 11, 1815
"The question before the human race is, whether the God of nature shall govern
the world by his own laws, or whether priests and kings shall rule it by fictitious
miracles." - Letter to Thomas Jefferson, June 20, 1815
Read on for more
John Adams Quotations
"The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were
an atheist, and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that
fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing
the nations." - Letter to F. A. Van der Kamp, July 13, 1815
"As to the history of the revolution, my ideas may be peculiar, perhaps
singular. What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was no part
of the revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The
revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected from
1760 - 1775, in the course of fifteen years, before a drop of blood was
shed at Lexington." - Letter to Thomas Jefferson, August 24, 1815
"We may appeal to every page of history we have hitherto turned over, for
proofs irrefragable, that the people, when they have been unchecked, have
been as unjust, tyrannical, brutal, barbarous and cruel as any king or
senate possessed of uncontrollable power... All projects of government,
formed upon a supposition of continual vigilance, sagacity, and virtue,
firmness of the people, when possessed of the exercise of supreme power,
are cheats and delusions... The fundamental article of my political creed
is that despotism, or unlimited sovereignty, or absolute power, is the
same in a majority of a popular assembly, an aristocratical council, an
oligarchical junto, and a single emperor. Equally arbitrary, cruel, bloody,
and in every respect diabolical." - Letter to Thomas Jefferson, November
13, 1815
"You ask, how it has happened that all Europe has acted on the principle, "that
Power was Right." I know not what answer to give you, but this, that Power
always sincerely, conscientiously, de tres bon foi, believes itself right. Power
always thinks it has a great soul,
and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God
service, when it is violating all His laws. Our passions, ambition, avarice,
love, resentment, etc., possess so much metaphysical subtlety, and so much
overpowering eloquence, that they insinuate themselves into the understanding
and the conscience, and convert both to their party; and I may be deceived as
much as any of them, when I say, that Power must never be trusted without a
check." - Letter to Thomas Jefferson, February 2, 1816
"I do not like the late resurrection of the Jesuits... If ever any
congregation of men could merit eternal perdition on earth, and in
hell, according to these historians, though, like Pascal, true Catholics,
it is this company of Loyolas." - Letter to Thomas Jefferson, May 5,
1816
"My history of the Jesuits is not elegantly written, but is supported by
unquestionable authorities, is very particular and very horrible. Their
restoration is indeed "a step toward darkness," cruelty, perfidy, despotism,
death and I wish we were out of danger of bigotry and Jesuitism." - Letter
to Thomas Jefferson, August 9, 1816
"I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of
the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved - the Cross.
Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced! With the
rational respect that is due to it, knavish priests have added prostitutions
of it, that fill or might fill the blackest and bloodiest pages of human
history." - Letter to Thomas Jefferson, September 3, 1816
You can visit John and Abigail's home today. It is managed by the
National Park Service and has lots of memorabilia and history to absorb.
Visit the Adams'
Home website here.
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