"Were the talents and virtues which heaven has bestowed
on men given merely to make them 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?
by:
Samuel Adams
(1722-1803), was known as the "Father of the American Revolution."
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ABSOLUTELY!...amen
 -- Me Again     
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     -- Logan, Memphis, TN      
     -- Joe, Rochester, MI      
    And they say that our forefathers were not socialists... ha! ;-)
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US     
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     -- Mike, Norwalk      
    Sam Adams was a socialist? Not even close! To pervert this quote to imply socialism is a disservice to the actual ideal of Independence Adams is talking about. The 'noble gifts equally dispensed' are from God, not government, and those blessings of Providence (not men) are to be equally enjoyed -- i.e. the definition of Freedom. 'Obedient drudges to be sacrificed to the follies and ambition of a few' are the goals of socialist reformers, not the lovers of Liberty.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Reston: The difference between socialism and Sam Adams is that Sam envisioned men actually working in order to receive the blessings of Providence, while in many so-called socialist nations, men work as little as possible, knowing they will get paid only as much as others, because they have become enslaved by totalitarians. Ben Franklin apparently was also against unbridled ownership of property for ownership's sake. But he was not a socialist. Marx wrote: "My objective in life is to dethrone God and to destroy capitalism." You can't dethrone God, but you can persecute those who worship God, which is a gross violation of rights common to socialist states. And the freedoms enjoyed by men are more often enjoyed under mainly capitalist systems. So, Reston, why don't you travel to China, Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela, and get a little close-up experience with "socialism."
     -- David L. Rosenthal, Hollywood     
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    Nobly put! The "Rights of Man" expressed by a "Founding Father" who knew what those rights were & that they applied to all men of every generation, nation & race.
     -- dragonswizardz     
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    Expresses feelings.
     -- Chadd, Vancouver     
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    Archer and Rosenthal: Amen and thank you! Great quote with good, solid meaning.
     -- Anonymous, Texas     
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    Samuel Adams is AMAZING!
     -- Samuel, Colarado Springs     
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    David Rosenthal from Hollywood said it well--- and it is sad that the socialist system of persecuting believers seems to be where we are headed. I want the Bill of Rights restored.
     -- Penni, Florida     
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    samuel adams was really famous for being leader in the american revolution ,signer of the declarationof the independence
     -- jr. campos pedroza, lahaina     
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    ITS REALLY NOT THAT IMPORTANT
     -- TRACY GALLARDO, HAWAII,MAUI,LAHAINA     
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    Samuel Adams stated that socialism is unconstitutional... http://www.nationalpm.com/index.php/site/index2/samuel-adams-anti-socialism-anti-wealth-redistribution/ “The Utopian schemes of levelling, and a community of goods, are as visionary and impracticable, as those which vest all property in the Crown, are arbitrary, despotic, and in our government unconstitutional. Now what property can the colonists be conceived to have, if their money may be granted away by others, without their consent?” Below is the same quote with some modern day interpretation: “The Utopian schemes of leveling (re-distribution of the wealth) and a community of goods (government controlled/central ownership of the means of production and distribution), are as visionary and impractical as those which vest all property in the Crown. [These ideas] are arbitrary (choices and actions which are done not by means of any underlying principle or logic), despotic (ruling with absolute political power), and, in our government, unconstitutional.”
     -- Glen Flint, Springfield, NE     
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    Glen Flint in Springfield, NE... You are absolutly correct. I have looked for this for a while. There others as well. I just read the account of the Plymouth Colony and how it failed. Adams and others witnessed the same from others in the Eutopian concept of things. This is completely against the scriptures as well, "...those that do not work, let them not eat". WIdows and orphans were allowed to glean from the land owner' s fields but they had to work for what they got nonetheless.

    Minute Man Park in Concord has one of 4 cannon possess by the colonies at the onset of hostillities. Two of them were owned by private citizens of the town of Boston. It was engraved with the words ordered by Henry Knox by order of the United States. There were over 2000 armed privately owned ships with in excess of 14,000 guns, swivel and mounted cannon on Privateers, US Maritime Mesuem. The Continental Navy possess only 64 ships with just over 1000 guns. A well regulated militia means one that is uniiform in drill and movement, Federalist Paper 45. The statutes of the early militias stated what was the absolute minimum one was supposed to report whith when the were called to duty. It was not a limit on what the could bring. The lies of the wicked will be known....

    God Bless
     -- Dennis, Fairbanks     
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    This is an entirely incorrect statement samuel adams is well known as a critic of socialism
     -- James, Lansing     
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    "The utopian schemes of leveling, and a community of goods, are as visionary and impracticaable as those which vest all property in the Crown. {these ideas} are arbitrary, despotic, and, in our government, unconstitutional." Samuel Adams
     -- James, Lansing     
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    If you think Socialism works, check out "New Harmony, Indiana".
     -- jim k, Austin     
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    Samuel Adams speaks of " The Dispensation of the Grace of God " under Liberty and Freedom for all. Freed from the tyrannical rule of the few ! THE EXPERIEMENT OF THIS ADMINISTERING OF GRACE. In one accord with the Word of God, and the Apostle to the gentiles, Paul , by which we receive the message of Liberty and Freedom from the law of oppression, 13 letters and epistles. thirteen being the number of rebellion. Gods heavens are mathematical, as also God's tokens to men, who would be upright to receive them. Truth meets reality. Archer, David and Dennis, well said !
     -- Ronw13, Yachats Or     
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     -- jim k, austin      
     
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