{"id":573,"date":"2015-11-15T01:55:23","date_gmt":"2015-11-15T01:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/repeatright.com\/engine\/?p=573"},"modified":"2018-10-08T20:20:20","modified_gmt":"2018-10-08T20:20:20","slug":"adams-john-quincy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.repeatright.com\/engine\/adams-john-quincy\/","title":{"rendered":"ADAMS, John Quincy"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1453315804311{margin-top: -40px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” shape=”square” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-book” add_icon=”true” title=”Citation” tab_id=”1449531588223-e020d87d-f7dd094f-cf63e7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

\u201cCivil liberty can be established on no foundation of human reason which will not at the same time demonstrate the right of religious freedom.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

~John Quincy Adams<\/strong>, 6th President of the United States<\/p>\n

Letter to Richard C. Anderson (27 May 1823) in Writings of John Quincy Adams<\/em>, Vol. VII [1820-1823], ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, New York: The Macmillan Co., 1917, p. 466; online via University of Iowa & Google Books, books.google.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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Extended excerpt<\/em><\/strong> [Letter to Richard C. Anderson, U.S. State Department. Italics original to cited text.]:<\/p>\n

\u201cCivil liberty can<\/em> be established on no foundation of human reason which will not at the same time demonstrate the right<\/em> of religious freedom<\/span>; and the control of a Bishop of Rome and a conclave of cardinals on the banks of the Tiber over the freedom of action<\/em> of American nations on the shores of the Orinoco, or the Magdalena, is as incompatible with their independence, as the arbitrary mandate of a Spanish monarch and a Council of the Indies at Madrid. The tendency of the spirit of the age is so strong towards religious liberty, that we cannot doubt it will soon banish from the constitutions of the southern republics of this hemisphere all those intolerant religious establishments with which they have hitherto been trammeled.\u201d (p. 466)[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-search” add_icon=”true” title=”Source Link” tab_id=”1449531589797-29580b31-8c50094f-cf63e7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Source link<\/em><\/strong><\/span>:\u00a0The Writings of John Quincy Adams<\/em>, Vol. VII (1917) online via Google Books: https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=WWNHAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA466&lpg=PA466&dq=john+quincy+adams+%2B+Civil+liberty+can+be+established+on+no+foundation+of+human+reason+which+will+not+at+the+same+time+demonstrate+the+right\u00a0<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” shape=”square” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-book” add_icon=”true” title=”Citation” tab_id=”1453315829087-ce67c619-0fbce7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

\u201cCourage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

~John Quincy Adams<\/strong>, 6th President of the United States<\/p>\n

An Oration, Delivered at Plymouth, at the Anniversary\u00a0<\/em>Commemoration of the First Landing of Our Ancestors, at That Place <\/em>(22 December 1802) Boston: Russell\u00a0<\/span>& Cutler, 1802 edition, p. 13; online via Library of Congress & Internet Archive, www.archive.org<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-plus-circle” add_icon=”true” title=”Context” tab_id=”1453315829475-7c82a017-1e62e7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Extended excerpt<\/em><\/strong> [Speech \u2013 modern spelling is cited in quote & excerpt, original text of quote appears as: \u201cCourage and per\u017feverance have a magical tali\u017fman, before which difficulties di\u017fappear and ob\u017ftacles vani\u017fh into air<\/span>.\u201d]:<\/p>\n

\u201cCourage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.<\/span> These qualities have ever been displayed in their mightiest perfection as attendants in the retinue of strong passions.\u201d (p. 13)[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-search” add_icon=”true” title=”Source Link” tab_id=”1453315829682-63e8fade-cf4ce7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Source link<\/em><\/strong><\/span>:\u00a0An Oration, Delivered at Plymouth, at the Anniversary Commemoration of the First Landing of Our Ancestors, at That Place <\/em>(22 December 1802) online via Internet Archive: https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/orationdelivered00ada<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1453316221301{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” shape=”square” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-book” add_icon=”true” title=”Citation” tab_id=”1453315828001-b5e2e52e-ea1ee7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

\u201cThe advantages which are derived from Education is one of the most important subjects that can engage the attention of mankind; a subject on which the welfare of states and empires, as well as of small societies, and of individuals in a great measure depends.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

~John Quincy Adams<\/strong>, 6th President of the United States<\/p>\n

Speech to the A.B. Club (26 June 1786) in journal entry \u201cA.B.N 2 (but was spoken first),\u201d Diary of John Quincy Adams<\/em>, Vol. II; online via Founding Families: Digital Editions of the Papers of the Winthrops and the Adamses<\/em>, ed. C. James Taylor, Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, www.masshist.org<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-plus-circle” add_icon=”true” title=”Context” tab_id=”1453315828385-86abfac4-79bfe7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Extended excerpt <\/em><\/strong>[Per the MA Historical Society footnotes, \u201cIn the speech which follows, JQA\u2019s second before the A.B. Club, paragraphing has been editorially supplied.\u201d Speech text from Diary of John Quincy Adams<\/em>.]:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe advantages which are derived from Education is one of the most important subjects that can engage the attention of mankind; a subject on which the welfare of states and empires, as well as of small societies, and of individuals in a great measure depends.<\/span> It has long been an opinion generally received, that the Situation which should afford the greatest degree of happiness to mankind, would be the most eligible; and the Poet appears to be of this Opinion when he says<\/p>\n

\u201cFor forms of government let fools contest<\/p>\n

Whate\u2019er is best administer\u2019d is best.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-search” add_icon=”true” title=”Source Link” tab_id=”1453315828572-dac97b48-68e0e7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Source link<\/em><\/strong><\/span>:\u00a0Diary of John Quincy Adams<\/em>, Vol. 2 (26 June 1786) online via Massachusetts Historical Society: https:\/\/www.masshist.org\/publications\/apde2\/view?id=ADMS-03-02-02-0001-0004-0026#DQA02d104n1<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” shape=”square” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-book” add_icon=”true” title=”Citation” tab_id=”1449531591105-7edf5f39-feaa094f-cf63e7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

\u201cTo believe all men honest would be folly. To believe none so is something worse.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

~John Quincy Adams<\/strong>, 6th President of the United States<\/p>\n

Letter to William Eustis (22 June 1809) The Writings <\/em>of John Quincy Adams<\/em>, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Vol. III, New York: Macmillan Co., 1914 edition, pp. 318-319; online via University of Iowa & Google Books, books.google.com<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-ban” add_icon=”true” title=”Misquotes” tab_id=”1449531592148-05fdd3db-5676094f-cf63e7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Misattribution note<\/span>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0The John Quincy Adams quote “To believe all men honest…<\/span>” has been incorrectly attributed by some sources to his father (and fellow U.S. president),\u00a0John Adams<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-plus-circle” add_icon=”true” title=”Context” tab_id=”1449531591631-43861bc7-da28094f-cf63e7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Extended excerpt <\/em><\/strong>[Letter to U.S. Secretary of War William Eustis]:<\/p>\n

\u201cAll men profess honesty as long as they can. To believe all men honest, would be folly. To believe none so, is something worse.<\/span>\u201d (pp. 318-319)[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-search” add_icon=”true” title=”Source Link” tab_id=”1449531592891-f39e055b-a66e094f-cf63e7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Source link<\/em><\/strong><\/span>: The Writings of John Quincy Adams<\/em>, Vol. III (1914) online via Google Books: https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=5V5HAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA319&dq=To+believe+all+men+honest+would+be+folly+To+believe+none+so+is+something+worse<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1453316221301{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” shape=”square” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-book” add_icon=”true” title=”Citation” tab_id=”1453315828001-b5e2e52e-ea1ee7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

\u201cTo furnish the means of acquiring knowledge is\u2026the greatest benefit that can be conferred upon mankind. It prolongs life itself and enlarges the sphere of existence.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

~John Quincy Adams<\/strong>, 6th President of the United States<\/p>\n

Report as U.S. Congressman & committee chair, advocating for the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution (14 January 1836) 24th Congress, 1st Session; in Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the First Session of the Twenty-Fourth Congress<\/em>, Vol. XII, Washington, DC: Gales & Seaton, 1836, Appendix, \u201cThe Smithsonian Legacy,\u201d p. 79; online via Ohio State University & Google Books, books.google.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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Extended excerpt <\/em><\/strong>[Adams, referencing a donation left to the United States by James Smithson of London, \u201cfor the purpose of founding at Washington an establishment, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men…\u201d]:<\/p>\n

\u201cTo furnish the means of acquiring knowledge is,<\/span> therefore, the greatest benefit that can be conferred upon mankind. It prolongs life itself, and enlarges the sphere of existence<\/span>. The earth was given to man for cultivation – to the improvement of his own condition.\u201d (p. 79, column 2)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Source note<\/em><\/strong>:<\/span> For more information on Smithson\u2019s gift to the U.S. \u2013 and the reason that John Quincy Adams had to actively advocate for America to graciously receive the funds \u2013 see \u201cWhen Congress Looked James Smithson\u2019s Gift Horse in the Mouth\u201d (30 July 2015) Pamela M. Henson, The Smithsonian: https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/smithsonian-institution\/looking-james-smithsons-gift-horse-mouth-180956107\/<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-search” add_icon=”true” title=”Source Link” tab_id=”1453315828572-dac97b48-68e0e7d5-272d”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Source link<\/em><\/strong><\/span>:\u00a0Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the First Session of the Twenty-Fourth Congress<\/em>, Vol. XII (1836) online via Google Books: https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=GJA_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA79&lpg=PA79&dq=To+furnish+the+means+of+acquiring+knowledge+is,+therefore,+the+greatest+benefit+that+can+be+conferred+upon+mankind.+It+prolongs+life+itself<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

Resources<\/h4>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”bottom-to-top” el_class=”Wrapper-Author-Resources”]Learn More About John Quincy Adams<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0| Here are a few good places to start:<\/p>\n