John Adams - Quotes

As I continue to pursue my interest in the War of Independence I have read quite a bit about the founding fathers and, quite frankly, to have that many brilliant minds come together in one time and place is truly astonishing. It wasn't a single individual that led us to the Declaration of Independence but a combined effort of more brilliant men than this nation has seen since. I do think that we focus way to much on a few members of that team though; Washington, Franklin and Jefferson. But I do believe without the driving force of John Adams the whole thing would have stalled for a lack of a truly driving force. It speaks volumes that Adams was not on the list of continental congress members that the British would have been willing to pardon.

Obnoxious and disliked but still becoming one of my favorites among the Founding Fathers and our Presidents. Here are a few quotes from Adams that I find enlightening:

"There is nothing which I dread so much as a 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."

"The science of government it is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take the place of, indeed exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain."

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion, - as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen [Muslims], - and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan [Mohammedan] nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretest arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

"...Cities may be rebuilt, and a People reduced to Poverty, may acquire fresh Property: But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty once lost is lost forever. When the People once surrendered their share in the Legislature, and their Right of defending the Limitations upon the Government, and of resisting every Encroachment upon them, they can never regain it."

"Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood."

"Negro Slavery is an evil of Colossal magnitude and I am utterly averse to the admission of Slavery into the Missouri Territories."

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak and write."

"Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it."

Enough for now, hopefully one or two of those will appeal to you. Adams was a prodigious writer!