Quotes by John Adams

Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.

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.

Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.

Because power corrupts, society’s demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.

The happiness of society is the end of government.

Liberty, according to my metaphysics is a self-determining power in an intellectual agent. It implies thought and choice and power.

Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak.

Power always thinks… that it is doing God’s service when it is violating all his laws.

I must not write a word to you about politics, because you are a woman.