His face is livid, gaunt his whole body, his breath is green with gall; his tongue drips poison.
John Quincy AdamsRead
America, with the same voice which spoke herself into existence as a nation, proclaimed to mankind the inextinguishable rights of human nature, and the only lawful foundations of government.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights America's commitment to human rights and the principles of government according to natural law.
John Quincy Adams emphasizes that America, through its founding voice, not only declared its own existence as a nation but also affirmed the universal rights inherent to all humanity. He suggests that true governance must be based on these inalienable rights, aligning the nation's identity with a higher moral duty to uphold and recognize the fundamental principles of justice and freedom for all.
Themes
AmericaRightsGovernmentHuman NatureFreedom
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about democracy, one might reference this quote to underline the importance of human rights.
More from John Quincy Adams
All quotes →Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.
John Quincy AdamsRead
It is among the evils of slavery that it taints the very sources of moral principle. It establishes false estimates of virtue and vice: for what can be more false and heartless than this doctrine which makes the first and holiest rights of humanity to depend upon the color of the skin?
John Quincy AdamsRead
The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.
John Quincy AdamsRead
I have no predilection for unpopularity as such, but I hold it much preferable to the popularity of a day, which perishes with the transient topic upon which it is grounded.
John Quincy AdamsRead
According to the Stoics, all vice was resolvable into folly: according to the Christian principle, it is all the effect of weakness.
John Quincy AdamsRead
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