John Adams Quote

"The nature of the encroachment upon American constitution is such, as to grow every day more and more encroaching. Like a cancer; it eats faster and faster every hour. The revenue creates pensioners, and the pensioners urge for more revenue. The people grow less steady, spirited and virtuous, the seekers more numerous and more corrupt, and every day increases the circles of their dependents and expectants, until virtue, integrity, public spirit, simplicity and frugality become the objects of ridicule and scorn, and vanity, luxury, foppery, selfishness, meanness, and downright venality swallow up the whole of society."

by:	John Adams (1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd US President
Date:	February 6, 1775
Source:	Novanglus and Massachusettensis, by John Adams, p. 34, ADDRESSED To the inhabitants of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay http://books.google.com/books?id=HMTHIs77pbcC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA34#v=onepage&q&f=false
Rating:
Categories:	Corruption, Dependence, Honor, Integrity, Respect, Servitude, Society, Welfare
	Tweet

We hold this truth to be self evident.  -- Mike, Norwalk      2
As usual, Adams has thought it out and explains it succinctly.  -- G.. R. Gores, Stockton      2
Abolish the Federal Reserve and the problem (mostly) goes away...  -- J Carlton, Calgary      1
Let us tear down the wall of taxes preventing the middle classes from advancing into the upper classes and stop trying to subsidize the lower classes into the middle classes. The American worker must believe again that they can advance only through their own industry.  -- Justin, Elkland      2
A change of heart is certainly necessary for our beloved United States of Manasseh (the son of Joseph), but I don't see it any time soon as more grow addicted to what Big Government entices them with daily. It would be nearly impossible to tear away many from the government tits they've fastened themselves to - just as the Socialists planned. Although people of every color have grown dependent on Big Government, blacks disproportionately rely upon and demand everything from others - just as the Socialists planned. If only we would use the money wasted in the failed liberal Projects, feeding, clothing and paying for untold illegitimate babies to sterilize them and repatriate blacks to Africa where they belong.  -- David Ben-Ariel, Toledo, Ohio      3
While interesting sounding is it not amazing that we have continued along for over 200 hundred years since he wrote this. And of what time or period was he talking, his current late 1700's or of some earlier society be it in the colonies or Europe. He is correct in that all things like commerce between men and relationships between people and governments be they local, state, national or elsewhere need constant vigilance, audits, controls, and regualations. His overall dismal attitude is unfounded and untrue. Human beings have abided their institutions before, during and after Adams wrote this and will contiue to do so but maybe now with Wall Street reform etcetera we can come off of the Cheney -Bush debacle of the last 8 years. The expression of racism like Davids above currently entering the public political debate is breathtaking and scary. What has triggered this current BS. For folk to blame each and every perceived problem on a minority 12.5% population is scary indeed. Davids handle Ben-Ariel sounds Jewish or Semitic. Anyway I pray that public opinon and rational public discourse can rise above this kind of BS.  -- Waffler, Smith      4
The wall of taxes need to be increased for "rich", "middle" and "poor" alike. Senator Saxby Chambliss darling of the republicans made a speech several Saturdays ago saying. "Our children and grandchildren are going to have to pay higher taxes." What he failed to continue to say is "because we are not paying enough". When you fight wars you must pay for them, we have not done so. If the Feds folded shop today they (that is WE) still have a 13 trillion dollar debt. Honest politicians cannot get elected because Americans will not stand up, be responsible and DEMAND HIGHER taxes.  -- Waffler, Smith      3
Waffler, the government collects more from those who buy and sell when taxes are lower and less from those who buy and hold because taxes are higher. Do you know anything about investing? You should worry about the 40% of Americans who paid no federal income taxes last year. These are the ones who cost the government the most.  -- cal, lewisville, tx      2 1
Trying to talk sense into Waffler is like teaching a pig to whistle, it can't be done. Obama says he wants the economy to improve and then does exactly the wrong thing to make it happen. Since the government always takes in more revenue when taxes are lowered ,and the folk in our Congress know this, then there must be another reason why they plan to raise taxes. Raising taxes kills any hope of improving the economy so why do they do it. Perhaps our wonderful president has no intention of seeing our economy improve, do you suppose.  -- jim k, Austin.Tx      4
In this case Tax's are not the problem, what is the problem is corruption throughout our political and corporate structures. This above all is the cancer that eats away at our very existence. Until we again (if we ever were) become a progressive, liberal, conservative, secular state, with ethics and integrity as our guiding principle, we will remain in the sliding sludge we have become. Waffler, we are not fighting wars we are fighting and killing for resources of which over 50% of our tax dollar supports. We are now in the Emperorship state of the Roman Empire. America is fortunate that we have no comparison such as the Gauls and Germans to end our empire, though we may not need them as we are imploding from within.  -- RBESRQ      2
To agree with Waffler, at least on one point, I would suggest that those Ben-Ariels in our society who harbor such a vitriolic view of minorities be jettisoned to a passing asteroid....no need in polluting our beautiful moon. However, his perception that Adam's "overall dismal attitude is unfounded and untrue" makes me wonder what planet he (Waffler) is living on. I suggest that he turn on the TV, plug in the computer, pick up the newspaper, or at least step outside for a few moments and take a good deep breath of reality. Adam's insightful words are reflective of the human condition and therefore become timelessly apropos. Surely, Waffler doesn't think that Wall Street (government) reform is going to change that. The "cancer" that Adams expounds upon is CORRUPTION, a pernicious blight that effects every human heart in myriad forms. A collective cure could come from nothing less than an individual willingness to own up to our personal reality. Unfortunately, far too few of us could bear the pain, myself included.  -- Michael, Hickory      2
Michael since Adams and apparently others had that attitude before Wall Street Reform, before TV, computers, etcetera means that that this optirectimitis attitutde has nothing to do with what is going on in todays world. It is a pshychological mind set. It is a beautiful day today where I live and we here have faith, faith in the future because we know that as Americans we have always solved our poblems and made thing better. And faith that we can keep doing it.  -- Waffler, Smith      2
Spoken like a true pensioner, Waffler. BTW, the annual interest we have to pay on our now unpayable debt is more than our annual spending this year... How about we stiff the Fed and pay for our own social services. How is it that a private bank like the Fed can have the right to print up its own money and lend it at interest and the People cannot make their own notes for currency interest-free? When the majority of the world's citizens realize this fact, we will see the next world war. I do believe it is inevitable. If the American people wake up and fight the Leviathan, the rest of the world will see that this monster is also in their land. If the Fed goes, then the People from all the Western countries will also learn of their chains. If there isn't a war, the Fed will make one.  -- E Archer, NYC      3
Brilliant arguments putting Waffler in his place which I see wasn't too difficult to accomplish. Adams could probably set him straight with a beer summit or something like that.  -- Anon      2
-- Ron, salem
Can't say we weren't warned  -- Tony, Maryland      2
An observation that is entirely in accord with the masterly Mr. Adam's affirmation that: " Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Under all circumstances, the presence or absence of Virtue makes the defining difference.  -- Patrick Henry, Red Hill      2
Again befitting for the day, " They also that render evil for good are my adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is." Psalm 38:20. The time of change upon our great nation, that which is foreshadowed, upon us. With a Firm reliance in Divine Providence the experiment was put forth, there will be no less a test of faith in our Restoration. Sound Leadership in our time of trouble, Master Builders are required, to Right our Ship of State. MAGA, God Bless and Semper Fi  -- Ronw13, OR      2
As we grow more educated becoming stronger and more authentic, the American institutions become evermore stable and the people more inspired, the constitution reinforced will inturn reveal the grand intentions of the noble experiment.  -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown

Tweet  Rate this quote! How many stars? 0 1 2 3 4 5	What do YOU think?
Your name:	Your town:     CLICK JUST ONCE!

Get a Quote-A-Day! Free!
Liberty Quotes sent to your mail box.
Email: