Independent

"The country shall be independent, and we will be satisfied iwth nothing short of it."

Samuel Adams

The Palladium

"I mean...to let you know how deeply I am impressed with a sense of the importance of Amendments, that the good people may clearly see the distinction-for there is a distinction, between the federal powers vested in Congress and the sovereign authority belonging to the several states, which is the Palladium of the private and personal rights of the citizens."

Samuel Adams

Obliged

"But we want no excuse for any supposed mistakes of our ancestors. Let us first see it prov'd that they were mistakes. 'Till then we must hold ourselves obliged to them for sentiments transmitted to us so worthy of their character, and so important to our security."

Samuel Adams
Boston Gazette; 1771

An Asylum on Earth

"Courage, then, my countrymen, 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"

Samuel Adams

Character of Public Men

"Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust be men of unexceptionable characters. The public cannot be too curious concerning the character of public men."

Samuel Adams; Letter to James Warren, November 4, 1775

Redistribution of Wealth

"Be forewarned, the pooling of property and the redistributing of wealth are despotic and unconstitutional."

Samuel Adams

Experienced Patriots

"If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin."

Samuel Adams

Virtuous Attachment

"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."

Samuel Adams; Letter to James Warren, November 4, 1775

Acting my Part

"Whether I shall live to rejoice with the Friends of Liberty and Virtue, my fellow laborers in the common cause, is a matter of no consequence. I will endeavor by God's assistance to act my little part well -- to appove myself to him and trust everything which concerns me to His ...all-gracious providence."
-- Samuel Adams, Nov. 7, 1775,... letter to his wife Betsy