In his 1821 Independence Day address to  the U.S House of Representatives, John Adams said, America “goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy.  She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.”  America will “commend the general cause  by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant sympathy of her example.”

What he is saying is that democratic proselytism ought to be confined to force of example.  “Wars”, he said, “are generally driven by  avarice, envy and ambition” and foreign wars in the cause of liberty “always subvert liberty in principle“.  If America ever deluded itself with the idea of exporting democracy, the “fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force.”

They might have been rebels against Good King George III, but they were rather smart, those Founders. Despite the fact that most Americans know only selected bits of American history, and little of anyone else’s, it’s a shame the US establishment doesn’t take a hint from John QuincyAdams

And by the way, why does he sound so much like Epicurus?