Old minds are like old horses you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order. John Adams on age
I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth. John Adams on design
Fear is the foundation of most governments. John Adams on fear
Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people. John Adams on freedom
When people talk of the freedom of writing, speaking or thinking I cannot choose but laugh. No such thing ever existed. No such thing now exists but I hope it will exist. But it must be hundreds of years after you and I shall write and speak no more. John Adams on freedom
Power always thinks... that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws. John Adams on god
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. John Adams on government
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. John Adams on government
The happiness of society is the end of government. John Adams on government
A government of laws, and not of men. John Adams on government
While all other sciences have advanced, that of government is at a standstill - little better understood, little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago. John Adams on government
The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries. John Adams on government
Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society. John Adams on great
Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak. John Adams on great
Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war. John Adams on great
The happiness of society is the end of government. John Adams on happiness
When people talk of the freedom of writing, speaking or thinking I cannot choose but laugh. No such thing ever existed. No such thing now exists but I hope it will exist. But it must be hundreds of years after you and I shall write and speak no more. John Adams on hope
Here is everything which can lay hold of the eye, ear and imagination - everything which can charm and bewitch the simple and ignorant. I wonder how Luther ever broke the spell. John Adams on imagination
My country has contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived. John Adams on imagination
Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write. John Adams on knowledge