Chapter 20: Myth—Politics Doesn’t Matter

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their Mothers live in habitual Infidelity to the fathers, and their fathers in as constant Infidelity to their Mothers?” John Adams, Diary, June 2, 1778.

“The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great Measure, than they have it now. They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they

will not obtain a lasting liberty.” John Adams, letter to Zabdiel Adams, June 21, 1776.

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending

with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Adams, Address to the Military, October 11, 1798.

“Democracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes and no man’s life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one of these will

soon mould itself into a system of subordination of all the moral virtues and intellectual abilities, all the powers of wealthy, beauty, wit and science, to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, and the execrable cruelty of one or a very few.” John Adams, An Essay on Man’s Lust for Power, August 29,

1763.

“Judges, therefore, should be always men of learning and experience in the laws, of exemplary morals, great patience, calmness, coolness, and

attention. Their minds should not be distracted with jarring interests; they should not be dependant upon any man, or body of men.” John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776.

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Quincy Adams, 6th U.S. President, Democratic. 28

“The first and almost the only Book deserving of universal attention is the Bible.” John Quincy Adams 29