Samuel Adams Quotes About Virtue

Quotes about: Virtue

• For no People will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can they easily be subdued, where Knowledge is diffusd and Virtue preservd . On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own Weight, without the Aid of foreign Invaders.

  Samuel Adams

  Patriotic, People, Ignorant

  "Warren-Adams Letters: Being Chiefly a Correspondence Among John Adams, Samuel Adams, and James Warren ... 1743-1814".

• It is in the interest of tyrants to reduce the people to ignorance and vice. For they cannot live in any country where virtue and knowledge prevail.

  Samuel Adams

  Country, Ignorance, Tyrants

  Samuel Adams (1968). “The Writings of Samuel Adams: 1770-1773”

• He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man.

  Samuel Adams

  Trust, Wise, Country

  "Loyalty and Sedition". Essay published in The Advertiser, 1748.

• It is in the interest of tyrants to reduce the people to ignorance and vice. For they cannot live in any country where virtue and knowledge prevail. The religion and public liberty of a people are intimately connected; their interests are interwoven, they cannot subsist separately; and therefore they rise and fall together. For this reason, it is always observable, that those who are combin'd to destroy the people's liberties, practice every art to poison their morals.

  Samuel Adams

  Country, Art, Fall

  Samuel Adams (1906). “The Writings of Samuel Adams: 1770-1773”

• A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.

  Samuel Adams

  Patriotic, America, People

  Samuel Adams (1968). “The Writings of Samuel Adams: 1778-1802”

• The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men.

  Samuel Adams

  Character, Men, Voting

• If virtue & knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslav'd. This will be their great security.

  Samuel Adams

  People, Liberty, Virtue

• It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue

  Samuel Adams

  Liberty, Minorities, Causes

  Massachusetts Historical Society, John Adams, Samuel Adams, James Warren (1917). “Warren-Adams Letters: Being Chiefly a Correspondence Among John Adams, Samuel Adams, and James Warren ... 1743-1814”

• Were the talents and virtues, which Heaven has bestowed on men, given merely to make then more obedient drudges, to be sacrificed to the follies and ambition of a few? Or, were not the noble gifts so equally dispensed with a divine purpose and law, that they should as nearly as possible be equally exerted, and the blessings of Providence be equally enjoyed by all?

  Samuel Adams

  Ambition, Blessing, Equality

  Speech in the State House of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com. August 01, 1776.

• We may look up to Armies for Defence, but Virtue is our best Security. It is not possible that any state should long remain free, where Virtue is not supremely honord.

  Samuel Adams

  Army, Long, Looks

  Samuel Adams (1907). “The Writings of Samuel Adams: 1773-1777”

• I thank God that I have lived to see my country independent and free. She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she will. It depends on her virtue.

  Samuel Adams

  Country, Independent, Long

• No people ever yet groaned under the heavy yoke of slavery, but when they deserv'd it. ...The truth is, all might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they ought. ...If therefore a people will not be free; if they have not virtue enough to maintain their liberty against a presumptuous invader, they deserve no pity, and are to be treated with contempt and ignominy.

  Samuel Adams

  People, Liberty, Yoke

• The diminution of public virtue is usually attended with that of public happiness, and the public liberty will not long survive the total extinction of morals.

  Samuel Adams

  Long, Liberty, Extinction

• [M]en will be free no longer then while they remain virtuous.

  Samuel Adams

  Liberty, Virtue, Virtuous

• I would advise persisting in our struggle for liberty, though it were revealed from Heaven that nine hundred and ninety-nine men were to perish, and only one of a thousand to survive and retain his liberty. One such freeman must possess more virtue, and enjoy more happiness, than a thousand slaves.

  Samuel Adams

  Struggle, Men, Ninety Nine

• The eyes of mankind will be upon you to see whether the Government, which is now more popular than it has been for many years past, will be productive of more virtue moral and political. We may look up to Armies for our Defense, but Virtue is our best Security. It is not possible that any State should long remain free, where Virtue is not supremely honored.

  Samuel Adams

  Eye, Army, Past

  Massachusetts Historical Society, John Adams, Samuel Adams, James Warren (1917). “Warren-Adams Letters: Being Chiefly a Correspondence Among John Adams, Samuel Adams, and James Warren ... 1743-1814”

• I cannot however help repeating Piety, because I think it indispensible. Religion in a Family is at once its brightest Ornament & its best Security.

  Samuel Adams

  Thinking, Ornaments, Helping

  Samuel Adams (1968). “The Writings of Samuel Adams: 1778-1802”

• Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity... and leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system.

  Samuel Adams

  Girl, Christian, Men

  Samuel Adams (1968). “The Writings of Samuel Adams: 1778-1802”

• 'Revelation assures us that 'righteousness exalteth a nation.' Communities are dealt with in this world by the wise and just Ruler of the Universe. He rewards or punishes them according to their general character. The diminution of public virtue is usually attended with that of public happiness, and the public liberty will not long survive the total extinction of morals.

  Samuel Adams

  Wise, Character, Long

• Of how much importance is it, that the utmost pains be taken by the public to have the principles of virtue early inculcated on the minds even of children, and the moral sense kept alive.

  Samuel Adams

  Children, Pain, Taken

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