John Adams

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.

It is not only [the juror's] right, but his duty, in that case, to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment, and conscience, though in direct opposition to the direction of the court.

Neither philosophy, nor religion, nor morality, nor wisdom, nor interest will ever govern nations or parties against their vanity, their pride, their resentment or revenge, or their avarice or ambition.

Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make good use of it! If you do not, I shall repent it in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it!

We hold that each man is the best judge of his own interest.

The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing.
- All from John Adams, 1735 - 1826

About: John Adams was born at Braintree, Massachusetts in 1735, to what was already an old American family. Educated at Harvard, he briefly taught school before turning to law, and then to politics. Like his second cousin Sam Adams, he was heavily involved in planning the fight for independence. He nominated Washington to be Commander in Chief of the army, seconded the motion to declare independence, and led the committee which crafted the Declaration. With John Jay he negotiated the treaty with Great Britain after the war and was the first US ambassador to the Court of Saint James. In the first presidential election under the new constitution he ran second, which meant he became the vice president, repeated in the second election, and won the third with Thomas Jefferson coming in second. One of the greatest animosities of the era was between Adams and Jefferson, although they seemed to be able to work together at times and both died on the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.