"Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide"

In this quote, John Adams is revealing his belief that democracy, although it may look like the most reasonable and just kind of government, is ultimately flawed and unsustainable. He argues that democracy is more violent and devastating than aristocracy or monarchy, as it permits the majority to have power and can cause the oppression and persecution of minority groups. Adams likewise cautions that democracy is not a lasting form of federal government, as it undoubtedly causes its own downfall through corruption, inefficiency, and violence. He recommends that history has actually revealed that all democracies eventually self-destruct, highlighting the fragility and impermanence of this kind of federal government.