“[W]e
have no government armed with power capable of contending with human
passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our constitution
was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly
inadequate to the government of any other.”
John Adams
Quote mining fail!
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to the full quote:
http://books.google.com/books?id=kI08AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA228#v=onepage&q&f=false
"But should the people of America once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another, and towards foreign nations, which assumes the language of justice and moderation while it is practising iniquity and extravagance, and displays in the most captivating manner the charming pictures of candor, frankness, and sincerity, while it is rioting in rapine and insolence, this country will be the most miserable habitation in the world; because we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Well, that's what I get for trusting a quote I find on-line. On the other hand, isn't that exactly what people, including atheists, want? A government that IS incapable of enforcing morality? Don't we want a government and nation that requires moral people in order to function or risk collapsing under the weight of its own corruption?
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