FFQF: John Adams on Virtue
Today’s selection on virtue comes from John Adams, who perhaps needs no introduction among the Founding Fathers, except for my prefatory remark that he was more essential to the Founding than several other Founders we seem to know more about and emulate these days (Jefferson and Franklin immediately come to mind — I’ll blog about that controversial subject soon!).
Although he did not participate in the Constitutional Convention (he was serving overseas as a diplomat), he was the chief author of the state constitution of Massachusetts — and the text and intent of the Constitution follows this constitution more than that of any other of the thirteen original states. John Adams also knew several of the people who labored over that document, and being one of the “founding” Presidents of the United States, is very much qualified to give an opinion on the spirit of the Constitution.
In a rather brief but powerful address to a division of the militia of Massachusetts, he declared that the success of the whole plan of Constitutional government, depends entirely upon virtue and morality in government and in the people.
While our country remains untainted with the principles and manners which are now producing desolation in so many parts of the world; while she continues sincere, and incapable of insidious and impious policy, we shall have the strongest reason to rejoice in the local destination assigned us by Providence. But should the people of America once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another, and towards foreign nations, which assumes the language of justice and moderation while it is practising [sic] iniquity and extravagance, and displays in the most captivating manner the charming pictures of candor, frankness, and sincerity, while it is rioting in rapine and insolence, this country will be the most miserable habitation in the world; because we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
How we have disregarded the wisdom of our ancestors.
*How was your FFQF today? Leave a comment below, with a link to your post.
6 Responses to “FFQF: John Adams on Virtue”
October 17th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
“assumes the language of justice and moderation while it is practising [sic] iniquity and extravagance, and displays in the most captivating manner the charming pictures of candor, frankness, and sincerity, while it is rioting in rapine and insolence”
Wow, Herky. Do you think he knew Orwell? This sure sounds like “newspeak.”
My post is up: http://akagaga.blogspot.com/2008/10/ffqf-thomas-paine.html
October 17th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Hello Jean. Thanks for your comment, and your link.
Lol, I think Orwell may have known Adams! Or if not, I think they both knew history! I don’t know much about Orwell, but I know that Adams was an avid student of history and human nature, like the other great Founders. His sense of virtue, justice, and integrity was amazing, and that is one of the main reasons why I am a great fan of his.
Knowledge of history, coupled with virtue, is a terrific formula for keen insight, and Adams possessed it in the highest degree. And his Yankee expressiveness is most endearing. When we approach the FFQF theme of “humor,” I will present one of my favorites!
Off I go to read your post. Happy FFQF!
October 17th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Humor? We’re gonna do humor? Oh, boy! I’m gonna start digging right now!
BTW, Dave has an excellent post up today:
http://sophronismos.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/founding-fathers-quote-friday-virtue-2/#comment-1798
October 20th, 2008 at 1:44 am
Why do you even bother with these blogs, Hercules? It’s not like any legitimate people actually read or care about anything you have to say!
October 20th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Raven,
I see that you have now decided arbitrarily who are and aren’t legitimate people.
I also see that you decided that Founders wasted all of their efforts, as many of their contributions came through their writings, which I faithfully reproduce above.
I also see that you are very much ignorant of the kind of traffic this blog gets, and the responses I have gotten from, well, people whom you apparently consider “not legitimate.”
Therefore, if you continue to leave these kinds of comments here, please be aware of the following facts:
1) You are welcome to visit and read the blog, however
2) if your comments continue to be rude, insulting, indecent, and ignorant, than I shall deem them unworthy of a response.
P.S. If YOU consider YOURSELF a “legitimate person” (what right have you to call others not legitimate? is there a such thing as a person who is “not legitimate”?), do YOU care about what the Founders said about virtue? If so, maybe a good place for you to start would be manners.
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Hey Herc.
Long time no see! I just wanted to let you know that we have “resurrected” the American Revolution Blog (it fell silent for quite a while). We look forward to keeping the blog alive for quite some time and hope that you will pay us a visit as often as time will permit. We certainly enjoyed your comments!
Anyway, hope to see you there!
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