John Adams (miniseries) Quotes
Thomas Jefferson: Well... to the revolution.
John Adams: Whose?
Thomas Jefferson: They are one and the same, John. Are they not?
John Adams: Whose?
Thomas Jefferson: They are one and the same, John. Are they not?
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)
John Adams: Mr. President.
George Washington: Mr. President.
John Adams: Thank you, sir. Thank you.
George Washington: I am fairly out, and you are fairly in. See which of us will be the happiest.
George Washington: Mr. President.
John Adams: Thank you, sir. Thank you.
George Washington: I am fairly out, and you are fairly in. See which of us will be the happiest.
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)
John Adams: Oh, surely you and I, Thomas, can rise above the din of politics.
Thomas Jefferson: Nowhere is the din of politics greater than in your own cabinet, which you have inherited from Washington without making a single change. They are Hamilton's men - they are determined upon a course of war with France.
Thomas Jefferson: Nowhere is the din of politics greater than in your own cabinet, which you have inherited from Washington without making a single change. They are Hamilton's men - they are determined upon a course of war with France.
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)
James McHenry: War is inevitable, sir.
John Adams: No, war is never inevitable. It must be the course of last resort. How great would be the guilt of an unnecessary war?
John Adams: No, war is never inevitable. It must be the course of last resort. How great would be the guilt of an unnecessary war?
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)
John Adams: These war measures will protect us from insurrection and subversion.
Thomas Jefferson: There is no war.
John Adams: And that is the principle behind these measures - the prevention of war.
Thomas Jefferson: You cannot protect the nation by attacking the right of every man to speak freely without fear. You're trampling on the constitution. The states will have no alternative but to resist these measures, which are an assault on the liberty of their people.
John Adams: Yes, but the people's representatives demanded these acts. Would you have me deaf to the voice of the people?
Thomas Jefferson: There is no war.
John Adams: And that is the principle behind these measures - the prevention of war.
Thomas Jefferson: You cannot protect the nation by attacking the right of every man to speak freely without fear. You're trampling on the constitution. The states will have no alternative but to resist these measures, which are an assault on the liberty of their people.
John Adams: Yes, but the people's representatives demanded these acts. Would you have me deaf to the voice of the people?
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)
Alexander Hamilton: If we're forced to rely on incompetent state militias for our defense, we may as well start learning French now, Mr. President. [chuckling] A national army binds the country much as a national bank does.
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)
Alexander Hamilton: Let us not forget there are those in our own country, sir, who would prefer secession to our continued Union. If they should be so bold as to act on their threats, in the event, say, of a French victory, we must be prepared to bring the renegades back into the fold by force if necessary.
John Adams: Never in my life have I heard a man speak more like a fool. Your actions, Mr. Hamilton, would precipitate the very thing that you pretend to protect against; the dissolution of this nation.
John Adams: Never in my life have I heard a man speak more like a fool. Your actions, Mr. Hamilton, would precipitate the very thing that you pretend to protect against; the dissolution of this nation.
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)
Timothy Pickering: Why on earth would you disband the army when we are preparing for war?
John Adams: Why on earth do we need an army when we are preparing for peace?
Timothy Pickering: You must abandon this folly of a renewed peace commission--
John Adams: You may think it folly, Mr. Pickering. I do not.
John Adams: Why on earth do we need an army when we are preparing for peace?
Timothy Pickering: You must abandon this folly of a renewed peace commission--
John Adams: You may think it folly, Mr. Pickering. I do not.
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)
John Adams: You, sirs, are subservient to Hamilton, who ruled General Washington and would rule me, if he could. Mr. Jefferson, whom you despise, is an infinitely better man. [shouting] I would rather be vice-president under him or resident minister to the Barbary pirates than be indebted to a creature such as Hamilton for my present post!
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)
Abigail Adams: Half-fed slaves building our nation's capital. What possible good can come from such a place?
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)
Thomas Jefferson: If the Federalist conspirators are allowed to defeat this election, there will be resistance by force, and the consequences could be incalculable.
John Adams: The outcome of this election is within your power. You would do well to quiet your revolutionary notions, Thomas. You have only to say that you will not turn out the government's officers, will maintain the navy, that you will honor the national debt -all of which the Federalists hold dear- and the government will instantly be in your hands.
Thomas Jefferson: I will not enter office but in perfect freedom to follow the dictates of my own judgment.
John Adams: The outcome of this election is within your power. You would do well to quiet your revolutionary notions, Thomas. You have only to say that you will not turn out the government's officers, will maintain the navy, that you will honor the national debt -all of which the Federalists hold dear- and the government will instantly be in your hands.
Thomas Jefferson: I will not enter office but in perfect freedom to follow the dictates of my own judgment.
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)
John Adams: I consider the true history of our revolution to be lost forever.
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)
John Adams: My dearest friend, whether I stand high or low in the estimation of the world, my conscious is clear. I thank God I have you as a partner in all the joys and sorrows, all the prosperities and adversities of my life, to take a part with me in the struggle...
Mrs Adams: Should I draw you the picture of my heart, you would know with what indescribable pleasure I have seen so many scores of years roll over our heads, with an affection heightened and improved by time. Nor have the dreary years of absence in the smallest degree effaced from my mind the image of the dear untitled man to whom I gave my heart. You could not be, nor did I wish to see you, an inactive spectator...
John Adams: Oh posterity, you will never know how much it cost us to preserve your freedom. I hope that you will make a good use of it, for if you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it.
Mrs Adams: Should I draw you the picture of my heart, you would know with what indescribable pleasure I have seen so many scores of years roll over our heads, with an affection heightened and improved by time. Nor have the dreary years of absence in the smallest degree effaced from my mind the image of the dear untitled man to whom I gave my heart. You could not be, nor did I wish to see you, an inactive spectator...
John Adams: Oh posterity, you will never know how much it cost us to preserve your freedom. I hope that you will make a good use of it, for if you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it.
TV Show: John Adams (miniseries)