Question

thoughts on government (john adams) questions
possible points: 10
what do you think adams means when he says \pope flattered tyrants too much when he said: for forms of government let fools contest, that which is best administered is best.\?

Explanation:

John Adams is criticizing the Pope's statement for focusing on abstract debates over government forms rather than the quality of governance. He argues tyrants exploit this by letting people argue over "best" systems while ignoring that effective, just administration (not the abstract form) is what matters most. Adams emphasizes that a government's merit lies in how it operates to serve the people, not ideological labels of its structure.

Answer:

Adams means that debates over the "best" abstract form of government are a distraction pushed by tyrants (enabled by the Pope's statement). He asserts that the quality of a government's administration—how fairly, effectively, and accountably it governs its people—is the true measure of a good government, not the theoretical system itself.