John AdamsJohn Adams, (1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd US President

John Adams Quote

“But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.”

John AdamsJohn Adams
~ John Adams

letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775

Ratings and Comments


Robert, Somewhere in the US

Though I agree, nothing is lost forever, as forever never happens. Liberty can never be post forever.... It may seem that way, but in its ashes there is always a smoldering ember of the love for freedom...

Howard, Bangkok

Hope he's wrong. Sure he is.

Bruski, Naples FL

True and sad to see our precious Constitution be set aside as socialism invades our system.

B

Patrick Henry, Red Hill

In this instance, the ordinarily irreproachably astute Mr. Adams errs in his underestimation of the vitality and viability
of Liberty.

Where Love is, there is Liberty.
Where Liberty is, there is Love.

Love and Liberty are illimitable.

They cannot not triumph over tyranny, which is, by its unnatural nature, self limiting.

Durham Ellis, Birmingham, AL

Over stated, but too close to the truth to ignore. Freedom is not free.

jim k, Austin

Especially true after 8 years of Obama and Hillary.

E Archer, NYC

Adams has a point. Freedom may not be lost all at once, but once a foundational pillar is removed, the descent begins. Fortunately the Declaration of Independence still stands and cannot be amended! The US government has gradually been transformed into a de facto fascism with rigged elections and state media. The first major pillar to come down was the recognition of each State being a sovereign state, whose association in the Union was by consent. From then on, the tone of the US Constitution got flipped from a rule book for the government to a rule book for the People. The 2nd major pillar has been removed several times and replaced, but missing now -- the forced use of debt-bearing notes for money instead of gold and silver as prescribed by law. Giving the power to government to pay interest on printed up money, that they could have printed themselves interest-free, transferred the complete economic power of the nation to a private central bank, who have now the power to rule ALL nations, crowns, popes, and people.

Freedom lost? I may say 'no, I am still free,' but wait until a traffic stop or border crossing or bank transaction or tax collector. Freedom is a state of mind -- it would be nice though if it was the state of the outside world, too.

Freedom is not an end, it is a way. I live free and deal with what comes my way. Humankind has been trying to liberate itself from bondage since the beginning -- this is just today's version. ;-)

Mike, NORWALK

Several have said well here. The ever expanding list of lost freedoms continues to grow exponentially while freedom, liberty, an accurate assessment of natural law, the array of rights and justice seriously wane. In the place of "freedom", the occupying statist theocracy infesting this land's seminaries (government schools) only allow ecclesiastical dogmas of despotism and tyranny (and call it freedom).

One might say: Once any government adversely alters its administration of freedom, liberty, natural law, and inalienable rights, that amended form of government can never be restored to its original nobility.

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