Samuel Adams (1722-1803) was known as the "Father of the American Revolution." Here's a few great quotes.
"Shame on the men who can court exemption from present trouble
and expense at the price of their own posterity's liberty!"
Source: writing as "Candidus," February 3, 1776
"No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor canany be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue ispreserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant,and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under." Source: letter to James Warren, 4 November 1775.
"The liberties of our country,the freedom of our civil Constitution,are worth defending at all hazards;and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks.We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors:they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasureand blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence.It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation,enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from usby violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of themby the artifices of false and designing men."
"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrantpervert the plain Meaning of Words!"
letter to John Pitts, January 21, 1776
"A general dissolutionof the principles and mannerswill more surely overthrow the liberties of Americathan the whole force of the common enemy...While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued;but once they lose their virtue,they will be ready to surrender their libertiesto the first external or internal invader...If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people,they will never be enslaved.This will be their great security." The Writings of Samuel Adams, ed., Harry Alonzo Cushing (G. P. Putman's Sons, 1908), Vol. 4, p. 124.
"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate,tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds."
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these:first, a right to life;secondly, to liberty;thirdly to property;together with the right to support and defend themin the best manner they can."
"If ye love wealth better than liberty,the tranquility of servitudebetter than the animating contest of freedom,go home from us in peace.We ask not your counsels or your arms.Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you.May your chains set lightly upon you,and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." 1776
"If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring menshall possess the highest seats in Government,our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." 1780
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