John Adams Quotes

I have seen men incapable of the sciences, but never any incapable of virtue.

There is no real excellence in all of this world which can be separated from right living.

Great and good are seldom the same man.

Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent.

The only word for goodness is goodness, and it is not enough.

Excellence or virtue in a man will be the disposition which renders him a good man and also which will cause him to perform his function well.

A good moral character is the first essential. It is highly important not only to be learned but to be virtuous.

Character is in turn the enduring source of virtue. It stands by itself and excites admiration in others. It is not obedience to authority, and while it is often consistent with and reinforced by religious belief, it is not piety.

What is the real relation between happiness and goodness? It is only within a few generations that men have found courage to say that there is none.

But courage without conduct is the virtue of a robber, or a tyrant.

Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.

The absence of vices adds so little to the sum of one's virtues.

A good man will certainly also possess courage; but a brave man is not necessarily good.

Ethics without virtue is an illusion. What is the highest purpose of ethics? It is to make a person good, that is virtuous.

There never was a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous.

Rarely do great beauty and great virtue dwell together.

To do nothing evil is good; to wish nothing evil is better.

I consider nothing low but ignorance, vice, and meanness, characteristics generally found where the animal propensities predominate over the higher sentiments.

The just man walks in his integrity

I do not believe with the Rochefoucaults and the Montaignes that fourteen out of fifteen men are rogues. I believe a great abatement from that proportion may be made in favor of general honesty.

Virtue is the first title of nobility.

There is hardly that person to be found who is not more concerned for the reputation of wit and sense, than honesty and virtue.

All the devils respect virtue.

Worthy of honor is he who does no injustice, and more than twofold honor, if he not only does no injustice himself, but hinders others from doing any.

The order of nature [is] that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue.