The jaws of power are always opened to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing.

Adams depicts political power as inherently predatory: it “devours” and “destroys” unless checked. The image suggests that threats to liberty are not anomalies but recurring tendencies of authority, especially toward intellectual freedoms—thinking, speaking, and writing—because these enable criticism and resistance. The quote reflects a core revolutionary-era suspicion of concentrated power and a belief that free expression is both fragile and foundational. Its force lies in treating censorship and intimidation as natural instruments of domination, implying that constitutional limits, civic vigilance, and a culture of dissent are necessary to preserve republican government.