Quote of the Day (John Adams, Warning Against Fanaticism and Other Dangers to the Republic)

“Our hopes however of Sudden tranquility ought not to be too Sanguine. Fanaticism and Superstition will Still be Selfish, Subtle, intriguing, and at times furious. Despotism will Still Struggle for domination; Monarchy will Still Study to rival nobility in popularity; Aristocracy will continue to envy all above it, and despize and oppress all below it; Democracy will envy all, contend with all, endeavour to pull down all; and when by chance it happens to get the Upper hand for a Short time, it will be revengefull bloody and cruel. These and other Elements of Fanaticism and Anarchy will yet for a long time continue a Fermentation, which will excite alarms and require Vigilance.”—John Adams (1735-1826), signer of the Declaration of Independence and second President of the United States, in a letter to Thomas Jefferson, July 16, 1814

On that cautionary note, Happy Fourth of July, Faithful Reader!