John Adams Quotes

Liberty cannot be preserved, if the manners of the people are corrupted.

A popular society must provide a school for citizens where through the best, most accessible and direct means they may be educated in the pure doctrine of Patriotism.

The Athenians are right to accept advice from anyone, since it is incumbent on everyone to share in that sort of excellence, or else there can be no city at all.

Good government generally begins in the family, and if the moral character of a people once degenerate, their political character must soon follow.

There are certain seasons in the course of human affairs, when Genius, Virtue, and Patriotism, seems to nod over the vices of the times.

… schools of liberty …. warehouses of disinterested patriotism

There's a lot to be done; I just see a total moral decay in our society.

There is no greater sign of a general decay of virtue in a nation, than a want of zeal in its inhabitants for the good of their country.

Virtue in a republic is the love of one's country, that is the love of equality.

The diminution of public virtue is usually attended with that of public happiness, and the public liberty will not long survive the total extinction of morals.

Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics.

No free government can stand without virtue in the people, and a lofty spirit of partiotism.

America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won't cross the street to vote.

Two great duties which every citizen of proper age owes the republic: a wise and virtuous exercise of the right of suffrage; and a prompt and brave defense of the country in the hours of danger.

A little citizenship ought to be taught at the mother’s knee and in the nursery. Citizenship is what makes a republic; monarchies can get along without it.

It is not parties that make or save countries or that build them to greatness. It is clean men, clean ordinary citizens, the masses.

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

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.

Pastors can lead the way in motivating the faithful to wise stewardship of their citizenship responsibilities. Without a healthy culture and civil society, limited government and ordered liberty will be impossible.

I cast my vote against Donald Trump. I did it without joy or enthusiasm. I did it out of civic duty and love for our country.

A republican government can only be supported by virtue; and the end of all our legislation should be to encourage our fellow citizens in its daily practice.

Since the days of Greece and Rome, when the word 'citizen' was a title of honor, we have often seen more emphasis put on the rights of citizenship than on its responsibilities.

Republican government presupposes decent and admirable qualities among its citizens - so we should be serious about strengthening character and inculcating virtue.

Anyone who assumes that this country is standing still is not a good American, or rather, he is an apathetic and dead one and makes no contribution to the society.

I think there are few things more patriotic than taking the time to make your country a better place.