[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13114]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          WORDS OF JOHN ADAMS

  (Mr. QUIGLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. QUIGLEY. ``I fear that in every assembly, members will obtain an 
influence by noise, not sense. By meanness, not greatness. By 
contracted hearts, not large souls.''
  Mr. Speaker, John Adams wrote those words to his wife over 200 years 
ago, but the same fear lives today. Congress is back in town and all 
anyone wants to know is when, not if, we will tear each other apart. I 
think we are better than that.
  As we move into September and tonight's address, let's remember how 
John ended that letter to Abigail: ``There must be decency and respect, 
and veneration introduced for persons of authority of every rank, or we 
are undone. In a popular government,'' wrote Adams, ``this is our only 
way.''

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