Nampa Classical Academy
Founder's Views on Virtue
John Adams
Samuel Adams
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson Richard Henry Lee
James Madison
Thomas Paine
Joseph Story George Washington
Noah Webster Back to Founders Views John Adams
1776 - letter to Mercy Warren "Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a positive passion for the public good, the public interest, honour, power and glory, established in the minds of the people, or there can be no republican government, nor any real liberty: and this public passion must be superiour to all private passions" (The Spirit of `Seventy-Six, Commager and Morris [109]; original Warren-Adams Letters, vol. 1 [221-222]).
1776 - letter to Zabdiel Adams
"The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a greater Measure than they have it now, they may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty" (Our Sacred Honor, Bennett [371]).
1776 - Thoughts on Government
"We ought to consider what is the end of government before we determine which is the best form. Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all divines and moral philosophers will agree that the happiness of the individual is the end of man....All sober inquirers after truth, ancient and modern, pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity, consists in virtue" (Papers of John Adams, Butterfield, ed., vol. 4 [86]).
Samuel Adams
1775 - letter to James Warren
"Since private and publick Vices, are in Reality, though not always apparently, so nearly connected, of how much Importance, how necessary is it, that the utmost Pains be taken by the Publick, to have the Principles of Virtue early inculcated on the Minds even of children, and the moral Sense kept alive, and that the wise institutions of our Ancestors for these great Purposes be encouraged by the Government. For no people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffusd and Virtue is preservd. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauchd in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders" (Our Sacred Honor, Bennett, 261).
1779 - letter to James Warren
"If Virtue & Knowledge are diffused among the People, they will never be enslav'd. This will be their great Security" (Our Sacred Honor, Bennett [217]).
1779 - letter to James Warren
"A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader" (The Writings of Samuel Adams, Cushing, ed., vol. 4 [124]).
Benjamin Franklin
1728 - The Busy-body, No. 3
"I pronounce it as certain that there was never yet a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous" (The Works of Benjamin Franklin, Bigelow, ed., vol. 1 [350]).
1768 - letter to John Alleyne
"Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy" (The Works of Benjamin Franklin, Sparks, ed., vol. 7 [415]).
Thomas Jefferson
1781 - Notes on the State of Virginia, Query 17
"Those who labour in the earth are the chosen people of God, if ever he had a chosen, people, whose breasts he has made his peculiar deposit for substantial and genuine virtue" (Writings, Peterson ed., Library of America [290]).
1785 - letter to Peter Carr
"Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best for you to do a dishonorable thing, however slightly so it may appear to you... From the practice of the purest virtue, you may be assured you will derive the most sublime comforts in every moment of life, and in the moment of death" (Jefferson: Writings, Peterson ed., Library of America [814-815]).
1788 - letter to Edward Rutledge
"My confidence is that there will for a long time be virtue and good sense enough in our countrymen to correct abuses" (The Writings of Thomas Jefferson [Memorial Edition], Lipscomb and Bergh, eds., 7:81).
1808 - letter to Richard M. Johnson
"I suppose, indeed, that in public life, a man whose political principles have any decided character and who has energy enough to give them effect must always expect to encounter political hostility from those of adverse principles" (The Writings of Thomas Jefferson [Memorial Edition], Lipscomb and Bergh, eds., 12:9).
Richard Henry Lee
1786 - letter to Colonel Martin Pickett
"It is certainly true that a popular government cannot flourish without virtue in the people" (Original Intent, Barton [332]; original The Letters of Richard Henry Lee, Ballagh, ed., vol. 2 [411]).
James Madison
1788 - speech at the Virginia Ratifying Convention
"Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks-no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea, if there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them" (The True Republican, French, ed. [28-29]).
Thomas Paine
1776 - Common Sense
"When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary" (Thomas Paine: Collected Writings , Foner ed., Library of America [44]).
Joseph Story
1833 - Commentaries on the Constitution
"Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them" (Commentaries on the Constitution, 719).
George Washington
1789 - First Inaugural Address
"There exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness; between duty and advantage; between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy, and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity; since we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained" (Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the U.S.).
1789 - First Inaugural Address
"[T]he propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained" (Washington's Maxims, 170).
1789 - First Inaugural Address
"[T]here exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness; between duty and advantage; between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy, and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity" (George Washington: A Collection, W.B. Allen, ed. [462]).
1796 - Farewell Address
"Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human Nature" (George Washington: A Collection, W.B. Allen, ed. [522]).
1796 - Farewell Address
"'Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of free Government" (George Washington: A Collection, W.B. Allen, ed. [521]).
Noah Webster
1788 - On the Education of Youth in America
"The virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities; and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more assiduity than the head" (Our Sacred Honor, Bennett [266]).
