Posts Tagged ‘john adams’
John Adams: Enslave By Debt
on Wednesday, July 12, 2023Meaning of John Adams Money Quote: saying Two ways to enslave a coungtry – one is under the sword or the other under debt. John Adams said:
“There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt” — John Adams
Share the John Adams Money quote image above on your site:
Short Link to this Quote:
This quote from John Adams suggests that a nation can be subjugated through either military force or excessive debt accumulation. Some key points in interpreting his perspective:
- Adams implies that large debt burdens imposed on a country, whether internally or externally held, can undermine its autonomy and self-governance if relied upon recklessly.
- He portrays debt as a potential tool for indirect control and influence over a nation’s policies to the benefit of its creditors that is as potent as outright military conquest.
- However, debt also enables important functions like infrastructure investment when used judiciously, and reasonable experts disagree on appropriate levels and management over time given changing economic conditions.
- A balanced interpretation acknowledges both Adams’ caution and the complex realities of evaluating specific debt situations – high debt poses risks if mismanaged but moderate, sustainable debt incurred for long-term growth does not inherently threaten sovereignty according to most analysts.
Overall, the quote conveys Adams’ belief that debt vulnerabilities should not be underestimated. But the best analysis considers this perspective alongside other reasonable positions, recognizing the need for open debate and evidence-based discussions around optimizing fiscal responsibility, economic opportunity, and national autonomy in a globalized world of complex interdependencies. Multiple perspectives have merit in such discussions.
Birthday: October 30, 1735 – Death: July 4, 1826
John Adams: Wealth Penurious
on Monday, February 28, 2022John Adams Money Quote saying the wealthy are made selfish by riches and lose their humanity. John Adams said:
“The rich are seldom remarkable for modesty, ingenuity or humanity. Their wealth has rather a tendency to make them penurious and selfish” — John Adams
Share the John Adams Money quote image above on your site:
Short Link to this Quote:
In this quote, John Adams is making an observation about how wealth and riches often influence people’s character and behaviors. The best interpretation is:
- Adams suggests that those who are rich or wealthy tend not to exhibit virtues like humility, creativity or compassion for others.
- He implies that affluence frequently makes people develop negative traits such as stinginess (“penurious”) and self-centeredness (“selfish”) as their wealth becomes a higher priority.
- Adams appears to believe that accumulating significant material riches can corrupt individuals’ personalities by fostering arrogance, lack of innovation, and disregard for those less fortunate.
Overall, the quote conveys Adams’ perspective that wealth tends to diminish admirable qualities in most of those who possess it. From his view, affluence commonly warps priorities and attitudes and leads the rich to care more for their fortunes than humanistic values like empathy, modesty or coming up with novel solutions according to their means.
Birthday: October 30, 1735 – Death: July 4, 1826
John Adams: Abhor Banking System
on Wednesday, October 27, 2021John Adams Money Quote saying banking is abhorrent when it’s about profit for bankers rather than the public good. John Adams said:
“Funds and Banks. I never approved or was Satisfied with our Funding System. It was founded on no consistent Principle. It was contrived to enrich particular Individuals at the public Expence. Our whole banking System I ever abhored, I continue to abhor, and shall die abhorring” — John Adams
Share the John Adams Money quote image above on your site:
Short Link to this Quote:
In this quote, John Adams is strongly criticizing the early American system of public funding and banking. The best interpretation is:
- Adams states he never supported the “Funding System” and felt it lacked coherent principles, implying it was inconsistently designed and implemented.
- He argues it was a scheme primarily meant to “enrich particular Individuals” through insider privileges, at the “public Expence” or taxpayer cost.
- Adams also harshly disapproved of the entire “banking System” as deeply flawed and abused for private gains. He maintained a lifelong disdain for it as expressed by his intention to “die abhorring” the system.
Overall, the quote conveys Adams’ conviction that the nascent national funding apparatus and banks were vehicles for corruption that prioritized select economic interests over responsible stewardship of public monies. From his perspective, they lacked integrity and justly enriched only a privileged few at the public’s expense according to the disapproving tone of his critique.
Birthday: October 30, 1735 – Death: July 4, 1826
John Adams: Enslave With Debt
on Sunday, May 17, 2020John Adams Money Quote saying you can threaten someone with death or simply offer them credit to put them into debt. John Adams said:
“There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword. The other is by debt” — John Adams
Share the John Adams Money quote image above on your site:
Short Link to this Quote:
This quote from John Adams suggests that a nation can be subjugated through either military force or excessive debt accumulation. Some key points in interpreting his perspective:
- Adams implies that large debt burdens imposed on a country, whether internally or externally held, can undermine its autonomy and self-governance if relied upon recklessly.
- He portrays debt as a potential tool for indirect control and influence over a nation’s policies to the benefit of its creditors that is as potent as outright military conquest.
- However, debt also enables important functions like infrastructure investment when used judiciously, and reasonable experts disagree on appropriate levels and management over time given changing economic conditions.
- A balanced interpretation is that while Adams aims to raise a note of caution, the best analysis considers this perspective alongside other reasonable positions, recognizing the need for open debate and evidence-based discussions around optimizing fiscal responsibility, economic opportunity, and national autonomy in a globalized world of complex interdependencies.
Multiple perspectives have merit in such discussions.
Birthday: October 30, 1735 – Death: July 4, 1826
John Adams: Government Not For Profit
on Tuesday, December 1, 2015John Adams Money Quotation saying the government he helped to found was for the protection and happiness of everyone and not a limited privileged few. John Adams said:
“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men” — John Adams
This quote from John Adams expresses the core principle that the purpose of establishing a system of government is to serve the well-being and benefit of all citizens within a society, rather than the priorities of any single person, family, or social class.
It suggests that a government’s role and function should be to protect the people, ensure their security and safety, promote overall prosperity, and support the happiness of the population as a whole. According to Adams, a just system of rule is not meant to generate profit, status, or advantage for any private individual or group at the expense of others.
Rather, the “common good” of the entire populace should be the foremost aim and driving force behind a legitimate government’s policies, decisions and leadership.
Birthday October 30, 1735 – Died July 4, 1826
John Adams: Credit Causes Distress
on Tuesday, November 23, 2010John Adams Money Quotation saying failure to understand the banking system and workings of our financial system and credit machinations are at the core of American difficulties. John Adams said:
“All the perplexities, confusion and distresses in America arise not from defects in the constitution or confederation, nor from want of honor or virtue, as much from downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit, and circulation” — John Adams
Share the John Quincy Adams Money quote image above on your site:
Short Link to this Quote:
This quote by John Adams, one of America’s Founding Fathers and the second President of the United States, offers a profound insight into the economic challenges of early America. Here’s the best interpretation:
- **Root cause analysis**: Adams is suggesting that the primary source of America’s problems isn’t political or moral, but economic in nature.
- **Specific issues identified**:
– “Perplexities”: Complex situations difficult to understand or solve
– “Confusion”: Lack of clarity or order
– “Distresses”: Difficulties or suffering - **Rejected causes**:
– Defects in the constitution or confederation: He’s not blaming the political system
– Lack of honor or virtue: He’s not attributing issues to moral failings - **True cause identified**: “Downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit, and circulation”
– Coin: Understanding of physical currency
– Credit: Grasp of borrowing and lending systems
– Circulation: Knowledge of how money moves through an economy - **Implied solution**: Better education and understanding of economic principles could alleviate many of the nation’s problems.
This quote demonstrates Adams’ belief in the critical importance of financial literacy and economic understanding for a nation’s success. He’s suggesting that many of America’s troubles stem not from flaws in its political system or the character of its people, but from a fundamental lack of knowledge about how money and economics work.
Adams’ insight remains relevant today, highlighting the enduring importance of economic education in addressing societal challenges.
Birthday: October 30, 1735 – Death: July 4, 1826
#ConstitutionDay September 17