John Quincy Adams

“From the day of the Declaration, the people of the North American union, and of its constituent states, were associated bodies of civilized men and Christians, in a state of nature, but not of anarchy.”

“Heaven has given to every human being the power of controlling his passions, and if he neglects or loses it, the fault is his own, and he must be answerable for it.”

“It was the special purpose of Christ's appearance upon earth to bring immortality to light.”

“It is among the evils of slavery that it taints the very sources of moral principle. It establishes false estimates of virtue and vice: for what can be more false and heartless than this doctrine which makes the first and holiest rights of humanity to depend upon the color of the skin?”

“The Declaration of Independence pronounced the irrevocable decree of political separation, between the United States and their people on the one part, and the British king, government, and nation on the other.”

“Gratitude, warm, sincere, intense, when it takes possession of the bosom, fills the soul to overflowing and scarce leaves room for any other sentiment or thought.”

“To furnish the means of acquiring knowledge is ... the greatest benefit that can be conferred upon mankind. It prolongs life itself and enlarges the sphere of existence.”

“Democracy, pure democracy, has at least its foundation in a generous theory of human rights. It is founded on the natural equality of mankind. It is the cornerstone of the Christian religion. It is the first element of all lawful government upon earth.”

“The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”

“This idea of the transcendent power of the Supreme Being is essentially connected with that by which the whole duty of man is summed up: obedience to His will.”

“הלוואי וארצי תמיד תצליח, אבל אם כן או אם לאו, העיקר שתמיד תהיה מוסרית.”

“[ארצות הברית] במשך כמעט חצי מאה, ללא סטייה אחת, כיבדה את העצמאות של מדינות אחרות בזמן שחיזקה ושימרה את שלה.”

“אנשים הם ישרים כל עוד יכולים. להאמין שכל האנשים הם ישרים זו טיפשות. להאמין שאף אחד אינו ישר, זה עוד יותר גרוע.”

“מה יכול להיות יותר מוטעה וחסר לב מדוקטרינה שהופכת את הראשונה והקדושה שבזכויות האדם להיות מותנית בצבע העור?”

“Nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people.”

“Though it cost the blood of millions of white men, let it come. Let justice be done.”

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

“America... goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.”

“Is not the brand of 'double-dealer' stamped on the forehead of every democratic slaveholder? Are not fraud and hypocrisy the religion of the man who calls himself a democrat, and hold his fellow-man in bondage?”