Extended excerpt [Letter to second-cousin John Adams, who was serving in 1790 as Vice President of the United States. Samuel Adams was writing from Boston, where he was also serving in government as the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts.]:

“Education is within the power of men and societies of men. Wise and judicious modes of education, patronized and supported by communities, will draw together the sons of the rich and the poor, among whom it makes no distinction; it will cultivate the natural genius, elevate the soul, excite laudable emulation to excel in knowledge, piety and benevolence; and, finally, it will reward its patrons and benefactors, by shedding its benign influence on the public mind. Education inures men to thinking and reflection, to reasoning and demonstration. It discovers to them the moral and religious duties they owe to God, their country, and to all mankind. Even savages might, by the means of education, be instructed to frame the best civil and political institutions, with as much skill and ingenuity as they now shape their arrows. Education leads youth to “the study of human nature, society, and universal history,” from whence they may “draw all the principles” of political architecture which ought to be regarded. All men are “interested in the truth.” Education, by showing them “the end of all its consequences,” would induce at least the greatest numbers to enlist on its side. The man of good understanding, who has been well-educated, and improves these advantages, as far as his circumstances will allow, in promoting the happiness of mankind, in my opinion, and I am inclined to think in yours, is indeed “well-born.” (p. 425)

Source link: The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Vol. 6 (1851) online via Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=UJYsAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA425&lpg=PA425&dq=Education+is+within+the+power+of+men+and+societies+of+men.+Wise+and+judicious+modes+of+education,+patronized+and+supported+by+communities

Extended excerpt [Adams letter to John Pitts, a former “member of the second & third provincial congresses of Massachusetts.” In the letter, Adams does not directly name the third party who delivered the speech he is referencing. Text style as it appears in cited source.]:

“You have seen the most gracious Speech – Most Gracious! How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words! It discovers, to be sure, the most benevolent & humane Feelings of its author. I have heard that he is his own Minister – that he follows the Dictates of his own Heart. If so, why should we cast the odium of distressing Mankind upon his Minions & Flatterers only. Guilt must lie at his Door. Divine Vengeance will fall on his head; for all-gracious Heaven cannot be an indifferent Spectator of the virtuous Struggles of this people” (p. 256)

Source link:The Writings of Samuel Adams, 1773-1777, Vol. III (1907 G.P. Putnam's Sons) online via Internet Archive: https://archive.org/stream/writingssamuela01adamgoog#page/n281/mode/2up/search/How+strangely+will+the+tools+of+a+tyrant+pervert+

Extended excerpt [Letter to Massachusetts legislator James Warren.]:

Original text [as it appears in cited source]: “It ill becomes you, my Friend, to think of retiring into private Life, who can lay your hand on your heart, and say that in your publick Conduct your have in no Instance deviated from virtuous Principles. If ever the Time should come, when vain & aspiring Men shall possess the highest Seats in Government, our Country will stand in Need of its experienced Patriots to prevent its Ruin. There may be more Danger of this, than some, even of our well disposd Citizens may imagine. If the People should grant their Suffrages to Men, only because they conceive them to have been Friends to the Country, without Regard to the necessary Qualification for the Places they are to fill, the Administration of Government will become a mere Farce, and our publick Affairs will never be put on the Footing of solid Security.” (pp. 212-213)

Modern text style & spelling [Repeat Right editor]: “It ill becomes you, my friend, to think of retiring into private life, who can lay your hand on your heart, and say that in your public conduct you have in no instance deviated from virtuous principles. If ever the 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. There may be more danger of this, than some, even of our well-disposed citizens may imagine. If the people should grant their suffrages to men, only because they conceive them to have been friends to the country, without regard to the necessary qualification for the places they are to fill, the administration of government will become a mere farce, and our public affairs will never be put on the footing of solid security.”

Source link: The Writings of Samuel Adams, Vol. IV (1908) online via Internet Archive: https://archive.org/stream/cu31924092891195#page/n237/mode/2up/search/when+vain+and+aspiring+men+shall+possess

Extended excerpt [Letter to Massachusetts legislator James Warren.]:

Original text [as it appears in cited source]: “If you are of my Mind, and I think you are, the Necessity of supporting the Education of our Country must be strongly impressd on your Mind. It gives me the greatest Concern to hear that some of the Gentlemen in the Country begin to think the Maintenance of Schools too great a Burden. […] Virginia is duly sensible of the great Importance of Education, and, as a friend in that Country informs me, has lately adopted an effectual Plan for that necessary purpose. If Virtue and Knowledge are diffusd among the People, they will never be enslavd. This will be their great Security. Virtue & Knowledge will forever be an even Balance for Powers & Riches.” (pp. 124-125)

Modern text style & spelling [Repeat Right editor]: “If you are of my mind, and I think you are, the necessity of supporting the education of our country must be strongly impressed on your mind. It gives me the greatest concern to hear that some of the gentlemen in the country begin to think the maintenance of schools too great a burden. […] Virginia is duly sensible of the great importance of education, and, as a friend in that country informs me, has lately adopted an effectual plan for that necessary purpose. If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslaved. This will be their great security. Virtue & knowledge will forever be an even balance for powers & riches.”

Source link: The Writings of Samuel Adams, Vol. IV (1908) online via Internet Archive: https://archive.org/stream/cu31924092891195#page/n149/mode/2up

Extended excerpt [Statement of rights. Spelling & text style as shown in cited source.]: “In regard to religion, mutual toleration in the different professions thereof is what all good and candid minds in all ages have ever practised, and, both by precept and example, inculcated on mankind. And it is now generally agreed among Christians that this spirit of toleration, in the fullest extent consistent with the being of civil society, is the chief characteristical mark of the true Church. Insomuch that Mr. Locke has asserted and proved, beyond the possibility of contradiction on any solid ground, that such toleration ought to be extended to all whose doctrines are not subversive of society. The only sects which he thinks ought to be, and which by all wise laws are excluded from such toleration, are those who teach doctrines subversive of the civil government under which they live. The Roman Cathoics or Papists are excluded by reason of such doctrines as these, that princes excommunicated may be deposed, and those that they call heretics may be destroyed without mercy; besides their recognizing the Pope in so absolute a manner, in subversion of government, by introducing, as far as possible into the states under whose protection they enjoy life, liberty, and property, that solecism in politics imperium in imperio, leading directly to the worst anarchy and confusion, civil discord, war, and bloodshed” (pp. 502-303)

Source notes: Adams created the declaration of “Natural Rights” after helping to form a committee of “twenty-one persons, to state the rights of the Colonists and of this Province in particular, as men and Christians and as subjects; and to communicate and publish the same to the several towns and to the world as the sense of this town, with the infringements and violations thereof that have been, or from time to time may be, made.” (pp. 496-497)

In the text above, Adams is referencing philosopher John Locke, and Locke's Letters of Toleration.

The Latin text “imperium in imperio” = “A government within a government.”

Source link: The Life and Public Services of Samuel Adams, Vol. I (1865) online via Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=XHs-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA502&dq=In+regard+to+religion,+mutual+toleration

Extended excerpt [Newspaper letter to the editor; using the pseudonym ‘Candidus']:

Original text [as it appears in cited source. Note that the 1771 text utilizes the ‘long' (or ‘medial') s.]: “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 receiv'd them as a fair Inheritance from our worthy Anceſtors: They purchas'd them for us with toil and danger and expence of treaſure and blood; and tranſmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasſting mark of infamy on the preſsent generation, enlightned as it is, if we ſhould ſuffer them to be wreſted from us by violence without a ſtruggle; or be cheated out of them by the artifices of falſe and deſsigning men. Of the latter we are in moſt danger at preſent: Let us therefore be aware of it. Let us contemplate our forefathers and poſterity; and reſsolve to maintain the rights bequeath'd to us from the former, for the ſake of the latter. – Inſtead of ſitting down ſatisfied with the efforts we have already made, which is the wiſh of our enemies, the neceſſity of the times, more than ever, calls for our utmoſt circumſpection, deliberation, fortitude and perſeverance. Let us remember, that “if we ſuffer tamely a lawleſs attafk upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom.” It is a very ſerious conſideration, which ſhould deeply impreſs our minds, that millions yet unborn may be the miſerable ſharers in the event.” (p. 580, column 2)

Modern text style & spelling [Repeat Right editor]: “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 treasure and blood; and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightned as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle; or be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men. Of the latter we are in most danger at present: Let us therefore be aware of it. Let us contemplate our forefathers and posterity, and resolve to maintain the rights bequeathed to us from the former for the sake of the latter. Instead of sitting down satisfied with the efforts we have already made, which is the wish of our enemies, the necessity of the times more than ever calls for our utmost circumspection, deliberation, fortitude, and perseverance. Let us remember that ‘if we suffer tamely a lawless attack upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom!' It is a very serious consideration, which should deeply impress our minds, that millions yet unborn may be the miserable sharers in the event!”

Source link: Letter addressed to the editors of The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal (14 October 1771) online via The Massachusetts Historical Society: http://www.masshist.org/dorr/volume/3/sequence/621

Extended excerpt [Essay from Adams' newspaper, The Independent Advertiser. While the essay was quoted at length in The Life and Public Services of Samuel Adams, to date we have not located an original copy of the paper online.]:

“But neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. 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. We must not conclude merely upon a man's haranguing upon liberty, and using the charming sound, that he is fit to be trusted with the liberties of his country. It is not unfrequent to hear men declaim loudly upon liberty, who, if we may judge by the whole tenor of their actions, mean nothing else by it but their own liberty, — to oppress without control or the restraint of laws all who are poorer or weaker than themselves.” (p. 22)

Source link: The Life and Public Services of Samuel Adams, Vol. I (1866 Little, Brown & Co.) online via Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=TIoTAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA22&lpg=PA22&dq=Neither+the+wisest+constitution+nor+the+wisest+laws+will+secure+the+liberty+and+happiness+of+a+people+whose+manners+are+universally+corrupt

Extended excerpt  [Letter to second-cousin John Adams, who was serving in 1790 as Vice President of the United States. Samuel Adams was writing from Boston, where he was also serving in government as the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. Italics original to cited text.]:

“We agree in the utility of universal education but “will nations agree in it as fully and extensively as we do?” Why should they not? It would not be fair to conclude that, because they have not yet been disposed to agree in it, they never will. It is allowed that the present age is more enlightened than former ones. Freedom of inquiry is certainly more encouraged; the feelings of humanity have softened the heart; the true principles of civil and religious liberty are better understood; tyranny in all its shapes is more detested; and bigotry, if not still blind, must be mortified to see that she is despised. Such an age may afford at least a flattering expectation that nations, as well as individuals, will view the utility of universal education in so strong a light, as to induce sufficient national patronage and support. future ages will probably be more enlightened than this.” (p. 423-424)

Source link: The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Vol. 6 (1851) online via Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=UJYsAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA423&lpg=PA423&dq=We+agree+in+the+utility+of+universal+education+but+will+nations+agree+in+it+as+fully+and+extensively+as+we+do

Re-quote note: A number of sources have paraphrased Ackerman's quote by changing the first words from “[R]evolutions don't require a majority…” to “It does not require a majority…”

Original: “Early on, he realized that revolutions don't require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in people's minds.”

Misquote/paraphrase: “It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.”

Misattribution note: Ackerman's 1987 description of Samuel Adams has also been misconstrued by a number of sources and attributed to Samuel Adams himself. The quote (or a similar version) does not appear in Adams' work.

For additional background and research on the Ackerman misattribution, please see this 2009 post by etymologist Barry Popik: https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/it_does_not_require_a_majority_to_prevail_but_rather_an_irate_tireless_mino

Extended excerpt: [On revolutionary-era politician Samuel Adams]:

“Adams didn't invent the phrase “rabble-rousing,” but he raised the act to an art form. Early on, he realized that revolutions don't require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in people's minds. Dogged, subtle, eloquent and cunning, he was obsessed with a vision of the ideal state he wanted America to become. Fueled by the tonic of his self-righteousness, he published a blizzard of circulars, newspaper articles and letters that bristled with restrained indignation. The letters were signed with pseudonyms, so that it would appear that many vocal zealots were enraged, but his one-man propaganda factory wrote them all. It was his form of pyromania, and it worked.” (p. 22)

Source link [Featured source]: “The Man Who Made a Revolution” (6 September 1987) Parade Magazine, in The Kokomo Tribune; online via Newspapers.com [subscription service]: https://www.newspapers.com/image/2666174

Source link [Additional misattribution research – Barry Popik]: “It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority” (2 December 2009) The Big Apple: https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/it_does_not_require_a_majority_to_prevail_but_rather_an_irate_tireless_mino