Adams, John -- Letter (1813-07-09) to Thomas Jefferson

Dave — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 22:24:14 +0000

Your “ἄρiςτοi” [aristocrats] are the most difficult Animals to manage, of any thing in the whole Theory and practice of Government. They will not Suffer themselves to be governed. They not only exert all their own Subtilty Industry and courage, but they employ the Commonalty, to knock to pieces every Plan and Model that the most honest Architects in Legislation can invent to keep them within bounds.

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797–1801)
Letter (1813-07-09) to Thomas Jefferson
(Source)

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Adams, John -- Letter (1813-07-09) to Thomas Jefferson