"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."
by:
John Adams
(1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd US President
Source:
John Adams, in a letter to John Taylor (15 April 1814)
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Reader comments about this quote:
 -- Mike, Norwalk      
May its flame become a prairie fire burning the blackness of tyranny in our day.
 -- Ron, Snellville     
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    Too bad we don't have men like Adams in Washington today.
     -- jim k, Austin,Tx     
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     -- RBESRQ      
    No demagogy or naïveness!
     -- Elisabeth, Astoria, NY     
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    From an Age of Reason.  Renaissance, anyone?
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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     -- Ronw13, Idaho      
     
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