Samuel Adams was the founding father and signer of the Declaration of independence. He was a politician with outstanding oral and writing abilities who influenced and convinced many colonial residents that they needed self government and therefore independence from Britain. From a young age he felt inspired to write and share his thoughts with the help of his pen. He wrote editorials in many influential newspapers and magazines and gave numerous speeches. This list of the most famous quotations by Samuel Adams has been compiled from speeches, letters and editorials during his long political career.
Freedom, Liberty and rights
“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.”
“The truth is, all might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they ought.”
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Constitution, government and democracy
“The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending against all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks.”
“The Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”
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Human kind
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.”
“Our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free, but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth for civil and religious liberty.”
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Religion
“The right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave. These may be best understood by reading and studying the institutes of the great Law Giver and Head of the Church."
“Religion in a Family is at once its brightest Ornament & its best Security”
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Morality
“He who is void of virtuous attachments in private life is, or very soon will be, void of all regard for his country. There is seldom an instance of a man guilty of betraying his country, who had not before lost the feeling of moral obligations in his private connections.”
“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt”
“Religion and good morals are the only solid foundation of public liberty and happiness.”
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