John Adams Quotes on Government (15 Quotes)

The manners of women are the surest criterion by which to determine whether a republican government is practicable in a nation or not

Statesmen...may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand.... The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a greater Measure, than they have it now, They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty.

It is essential... that you should form and adopt certain rules or principles, for the government of your own conduct and temper. Unless you have such rules and principles, there will be numberless occasions on which you will have no guide for your government but your passions... It is in the Bible, you must learn them, and from the Bible how to practice them.

The Science of Government it is my duty to study, more than all other Sciences the Art of Legislation and Administration and Negotiation, ought to take place, indeed to exclude in a manner all other Arts. I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study Mathematics and Philosophy. My sons ought to study Mathematics and Philosophy, Geography, natural History, Naval Architecture, navigation, Commerce and Agriculture, in order to give their Children a right to study Painting, Poetry, Musick, Architecture, Statuary, Tapestry and Porcelaine. This letter has not been dated precisely, but appears to have been written after Adams's letter to his wife on May 12, and before one written to her on May 15.

All the public business in Congress now connects itself with intrigues, and there is great danger that the whole government will degenerate into a struggle of cabals

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

You are apprehensive of monarchy I, of aristocracy. I would therefore have given more power to the President and less to the Senate.

The declaration that our People are hostile to a government made by themselves, for themselves, and conducted by themselves, is an insult

There is in the Congress a collection of the greatest men upon this continent in point of abilities, virtues, and fortunes

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.

The happiness of society is the end of government.

As the happiness of the people is the sole end of government, so the consent of the people is the only foundation of it, in reason, morality, and the natural fitness of things.

The end of the institution, maintenance, and administration of government is to secure the existence of the body politic to protect it, and to furnish the individuals who compose it with the power of enjoying, in safety and tranquillity, their natur.

But I fear that in every assembly members will obtain an influence by noise rather than sense, by meanness rather than greatness, and by ignorance and not learning, by contracted hearts and not large souls. There is one thing, that must be attempted and most sacredly observed, or we are all undone. There must be decency and respect and veneration introduced for persons of every rank, or we are undone. In a popular government, this is our only way.

There is but one element of government, and that is THE PEOPLE. From this element spring all governments. 'For a nation to be free, it is only necessary that she wills it.' For a nation to be slave, it is only necessary that she wills it.