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

John Adams Quote

“Liberty, according to my metaphysics, is an intellectual quality, an attribute that belongs not to fate nor chance. Neither possesses it, neither is capable of it. There is nothing moral or immoral in the idea of it. The definition of it is a self-determining power in an intellectual agent. It implies thought and choice and power; it can elect between objects, indifferent in point of morality, neither morally good nor morally evil.”

John AdamsJohn Adams
~ John Adams

John Adams, in a letter to John Taylor (15 April 1814)

Ratings and Comments


Ron, Snellville

May its flame become a prairie fire burning the blackness of tyranny in our day.

jim k, Austin,Tx

Too bad we don't have men like Adams in Washington today.

RBESRQ
  • Reply
RBESRQ    6/28/10
Elisabeth, Astoria, NY

No demagogy or naïveness!

E Archer, NYC

From an Age of Reason.  Renaissance, anyone?

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