His face is livid, gaunt his whole body, his breath is green with gall; his tongue drips poison.
John Quincy AdamsRead
May our country be always successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of moral integrity over mere success in national affairs.
In this quote, John Quincy Adams expresses a desire for his country to achieve success in its endeavors while underscoring that it is even more critical to remain morally right, regardless of the outcomes. This reflects a principle that prioritizes ethical standards and justice over the pursuit of victory, suggesting that integrity should guide a nation's actions above all else.
Themes
CountrySuccessRightIntegrityMorality
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about national values during a political rally, one might quote Adams to emphasize the importance of ethics in governance.
More from John Quincy Adams
All quotes βAlways 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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