John Adams quotes, verified

“Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.”

A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law, 1765

Published in the Boston Gazette in 1765 during the Stamp Act crisis, when Adams was 29 and practising law.

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“Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak and write.”

A Dissertation on the Canon and the Feudal Law, No. 4, Boston Gazette, 21 October 1765

From the fourth installment of A Dissertation on the Canon and the Feudal Law, printed in the Boston Gazette on 21 October 1765.

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“Statesmen my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand.”

Letter to Zabdiel Adams, 21 June 1776

From a letter dated 21 June 1776 to Zabdiel Adams, his cousin and a minister in Lunenburg, Massachusetts.

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“It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

Letter to Abigail Adams, Philadelphia, 3 July 1776

From a letter John Adams wrote in Philadelphia to his wife Abigail on 3 July 1776, the day after Congress voted for independence.

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“Posterity! You will never know, how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good Use of it.”

Letter to Abigail Adams, 26 Apr 1777

From a letter John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail on the evening of Saturday, 26 April 1777, while serving in the Continental Congress.

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“I must study Politicks and War that my sons may have liberty to study Mathematicks and Philosophy.”

Letter to Abigail Adams, 12 May 1780

From a letter John Adams wrote to Abigail from Paris in May 1780, while he was in France as the American commissioner for peace negotiations.

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

Letter to the Officers of the First Brigade, Third Division, Massachusetts Militia, 11 Oct 1798

From President Adams's reply, written at Quincy on 11 October 1798, to an address sent from Lexington by officers of a Massachusetts militia brigade.

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“You and I, ought not to die, before We have explained ourselves to each other.”

Letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1813

From a letter written at Quincy, Massachusetts, on 15 July 1813 to Thomas Jefferson, his old ally and later political rival.

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“While you live, I Seem to have a Bank at Montecello on which I can draw for a Letter of Friendship and entertainment when I please.”

Letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 8 December 1818

From a letter written at Quincy, Massachusetts, on 8 December 1818, six weeks after the death of his wife Abigail.

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