John Quincy Adams (11 July 1767 – 23 February 1848) Sixth President of the United States; son of John Adams and Abigail Adams
Sourced:
- I can never join with my voice in the toast which I see in the papers attributed to one of our gallant naval heroes. I cannot ask of heaven success, even for my country, in a cause where she should be in the wrong. Fiat justitia, pereat coelum. My toast would be, may our country always be successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right.
- Letter to John Adams (August 1, 1816) Speaking of the popular phrase "My Country, Right or Wrong!" based upon Stephen Decatur 's famous statement "Our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right, but our country, right or wrong." The Latin phrase is an ancient one that can be translated as : "Let justice be done though heaven should fall."
- Think of your forefathers! Think of your posterity!
- Speech at Plymouth, (December 22, 1802) Translation from Tacitus' Et majores et posteros cogitate.
- My wants are many, and, if told would muster many a score; And were each wish a mint of gold, I still would want for more.
- The Wants of Man, stanza 1, published in The Quincy Patriot, (September 25, 1841)
- This is the last of Earth! I am content.
- His Last Words (February 21, 1848)
Attributed:
- All men profess honesty as long as they can. To believe all men honest would be folly. To believe none so is something worse.
- Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.
- America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.
- Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.
- Variant: Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.
- Posterity: you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.
