John Adams Quotes

I always tell my wife, 'If you're ever looking for something to put on my gravestone, put down, 'He was an honest man, and he never held a grudge.'

Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever.

My favourite virtue is not having any.

My mother and father just taught me the basics: to be really kind, to really listen to people. I have never been one to put on airs and graces.

Tell the truth. Sing with passion. Work with laughter. Love with heart. 'Cause that's all that matters in the end.

What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.

I have learned so many things from my mother about the right upbringing, the right values, value for money, value for elders, for family members. I think these things only a parent can teach you.

I place a high moral value on the way people behave. I find it repellent to have a lot, and to behave with anything other than courtesy in the old sense of the word - politeness of the heart, a gentleness of the spirit.

There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth.

To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.

Born poor, but of honored and humble people, I am particularly proud to die poor.

I don't like the idea of 'I've played nine years, I've made some All-Star teams, I make the most money. I've got to be a leader.' That doesn't make you a leader. Treating people the right way is more important.

I just want my daughter to be respectful and nice to people. I want her to understand the importance of being humble.

As you grow up, always tell the truth, do no harm to others, and don't think you are the most important being on earth. Rich or poor, you then can look anyone in the eye and say, 'I'm probably no better than you, but I'm certainly your equal.

I have no trouble being a good dude because that's what I am.

My grandfather was an amazing man. You talk about character and integrity, everyone who knew him, whether they agreed with him or not, said, 'George Romney is a good man, and he sticks to his principles: a man of honesty and hard work, integrity.'

You can know a person is a good person or a bad person by who they are, not by what they look like.

The best way of enjoying your money is to spend it on other people. I don't need much.

Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.

I admire people who just do the right thing, not looking to screw people up. I love all people.

I'm incredibly articulate, thoughtful and moral, and I think about what I do. I want to be known for doing something good.

Friendship with a man is friendship with his virtue.

I always try to act as though there is a little boy or a little girl around, and I try never to do anything that would give them a bad example.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.

The main thing is to keep it simple, keep it real, be honest and pull no stunts. You can't forget where you started and came from.