It was an observation founded in undoubted facts, that the prosperity of nations had been in proportion to the discipline of their forces by sea and land. . . Discipline, discipline, had become my constant topic of discourse and even declamation in and out of Congress, and especially in the board of war. I saw […]
John Adams Quotes
Obedience is the only thing wanting now for our salvation. Obedience to the laws in the States, and obedience to officers in the army.
Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.
A democracy is as really a republic as on oak a tree, or a temple a building.
All the perplexities, confusions, and distresses in America arise, not from defects in their constitution or confederation, not from a want of honor or virtue, so much as from downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit, and circulation.
The national defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman.
Yesterday, the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in America; and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be, decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that those United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.
The die was now cast; I had passed the Rubicon. Sink or swim, lie or die, survive or perish with my country, was my unalterable determination. (After deciding to cast his vote for the adoption of the Declaration of Independence)
There is nothing in the science of human nature more curious, or that deserves a critical attention from every order of men so much, as that principle which moral writers have distinguished by the name of self-deceit. This principle is the spurious offspring of self-love; and is, perhaps, the source of far the greatest and […]
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
