John Adams, (1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd US President Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page John Adams Quote “Nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people.”John Adams ~ John Adams (1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd US President'Novanglus', 'Boston Gazette' 06 Feb 1775 Freedom , Politics , Power , Tyranny , Liberty , Terrorism , President Ratings and Comments 1 Reply Rodney Porter, Springfield 3/18/05 For anyone concerned about their life and liberty, the happiness of their family and the future of their country this quotation states the task as succinctly as ever was. Adams was a very good man and his words ring true today. Reply Klacee Klaver, Carl junction MO. 10/6/06 This quote is a great resource for anyone who studies John Adams. It is extremly helpful. Reply Mike, Norwalk 11/28/06 Reply David L. Rosenthal 11/28/06 John Adams was far from ordinary among his peers. He was a nut. (But remember what Billy Joel said about that.) If John were alive today, you can be sure he would take some decisive action, since the government we have today, including all three branches, is worse than that of King George lll of 1775. Reply EGL, LA 11/28/06 Arbitrary power is a term that we accept, but it is a kind of oxymoron, for when it is employed it is never arbitray in the minds of those who wield it. Sadly I would say that today we have moved far beyond arbitray power so nipping it in the bud is no longer an option. Reply Mike, Norwalk 11/28/06 No longer able to nip arbitrary power in the bud, I think we need to shoot the field of flowering weeds. Reply Mike, Mount Holly, NC 11/28/06 O, for a John Adams in our day. Reply Joe, Rochester, MI 11/28/06 David, so anyone willing to take decisive action is a nut? Mike, I agree, it's time to use weed killer in our gardens. "The tree of liberty could not grow were it not watered with the blood of tyrants." LOL Reply Anonymous, Reston, VA US 11/28/06 Reply E Archer, NYC 11/28/06 Every encroachment becomes a precedent for another and another. When we are ready to stand up to arbitrary power and embrace the responsibilities that the government is trying to assume for us, then we have a chance at pruning the overgrown garden. Reply David L. Rosenthal 11/28/06 Well, Joe, to be fair, I have never known anyone who was not crazy. Adams was generally impatient of wishy-washiness. He was a far-sighted analyst of the political situation. He was a conspirator against an empire. It takes a nut. Reply Matthew, police state of EU 4/4/09 If you want to see arbitary power look at either the EU or China, in Europe the Corpus jurus has taken over and becuase of the Lisbon Treaty EU police (europol) now have right to operate in Britain and "are immune from prosecution" not only this they can operate in Britain and can charge me with a differnet crime once in custody. Lisbon treaty page 18 article 9 defines the EU as three unelected politburos one of which is the European commision which has officals convicted for fraud. page 17 8b-4 “Not less than one million citizens who are nationals of many Member States may take the initiative of inviting the European Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.” In plain English you are only allowed to petition the commision (who are unelected and corrupt) for laws which agree with the existing treaties which gives the state more power. Page 13, 3A-3, end: “The Member States shall facilitate the achievement of the Union's tasks and refrain from any measure which could jeopardise the attainment of the Union's objectives." You are not allowed to resist the EU! now if i had a gun I would feel safer but that is illegal in britain so If any one of the people here knows how I get a gun anyway I would be much obliged. Reply Matthew, police state of EU 4/4/09 1 Reply Ardel, Wayne County, MA 12/8/10 Great quote. Wish we had one of him today! Reply jm doslobos, washington ut 12/8/10 One of the best and certainly appropriate now. Reply HUNTER, S.C. 3/7/12 I WILL GET A BIG FAT A 100 Reply madi 1/5/13 1 Reply jim k, austin tx 8/26/14 The hacks that we have in Washington today, couldn't even carry Adams lunch pail. Reply cal, Lewisville, tx 8/28/14 Surprisingc coming from a federalist. Reply Ronw13, Yachats Or 8/30/14 Many kingdoms small and large, whether an individual or in concert have neglected their responsibility of maintaining the garden. Socialism can be liken to running vines and thorny underbrush chocking out the plants we cherish so much. Weak minds, uneducated, weak backs, lack of morals, are never up to the job. But yet the aged have need of such services in their own gardens who wish for those buds to be nipped and uprooted. Counsel for the weak mind, example, by way of action for those lacking morals, nippers and bullets for those called for the job ! A strong Constitution to stand on. Reply jim k, Austin 4/8/20 SaveOk2 SaveOk2 View CommentsClick to view or comment. Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print This John Adams quote is found in these categories: Freedom quotes Politics quotes Power quotes Tyranny quotes Liberty quotes Terrorism quotes President quotes About John Adams Bio of John Adams Quotations by John Adams Books by/about John Adams John Adams videos John Adams on Wikipedia Astrological chart for John Adams