Quotes

“Fear is the foundation of most governments.” John Adams

“The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations.” John Adams

“In politics the middle way is none at all.” John Adams

“Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order.” John Adams

“The right of a nation to kill a tyrant in case of necessity can no more be doubted than to hang a robber, or kill a flea.” John Adams

“Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.” John Adams

“A government of laws, and not of men.” John Adams

“The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.” John Adams

“When people talk of the freedom of writing, speaking or thinking I cannot choose but laugh. No such thing ever existed. No such thing now exists; but I hope it will exist. But it must be hundreds of years after you and I shall write and speak no more.” John Adams

“I have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have consented to my own ruin, to your ruin, and to the ruin of our children. I give you this warning that you may prepare your mind for your fate.” John Adams

“I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.” John Adams

“Liberty, according to my metaphysics is a self-determining power in an intellectual agent. It implies thought and choice and power.” John Adams

“I must not write a word to you about politics, because you are a woman.” John Adams

“The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries.” John Adams

“A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved, and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man.” John Adams

“While all other sciences have advanced, that of government is at a standstill - little better understood, little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago.” John Adams

“Property is surely a right of mankind as real as liberty.” John Adams

“Genius is sorrow's child.” John Adams

“My country has contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.” John Adams

“Here is everything which can lay hold of the eye, ear and imagination - everything which can charm and bewitch the simple and ignorant. I wonder how Luther ever broke the spell.” John Adams

“As much as I converse with sages and heroes, they have very little of my love and admiration. I long for rural and domestic scene, for the warbling of birds and the prattling of my children.” John Adams

“The Declaration of Independence I always considered as a theatrical show. Jefferson ran away with all the stage effect of that... and all the glory of it.” John Adams

“You don't take a photograph, you make it.” Ansel Adams

“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” Ansel Adams

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.” Ansel Adams

“Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas. It is a creative art.” Ansel Adams

“A good photograph is knowing where to stand.” Ansel Adams

“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.” Ansel Adams

“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.” Ansel Adams

“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.” Ansel Adams