The love of power, like the love of money, increases with the

Hearken, O children of the ages, to the admonitions of Samuel Adams, who warns of the perilous allure of the love of power and its kin, the love of money. He teaches that these desires, once tasted, grow ever stronger, consuming the hearts of men and threatening the foundations of society. In every age, unbridled passions of this nature have sown chaos, corruption, and ruin, leaving nations and communities fractured by greed and ambition unchecked.

Adams instructs us that the danger lies not merely in desire itself, but in the uncontrolled rage of these impulses. When power and wealth are wielded without restraint, the fabric of civilization unravels. Kings and tyrants, merchants and rulers alike, throughout the ages have fallen prey to these passions, and history bears witness to the devastation wrought when the heart is governed by appetite rather than virtue.

Yet there exists a safeguard, timeless and potent: the vigilant eye of the virtuous citizens. Adams reminds us that a society thrives not merely through laws and decrees, but through the active engagement and moral oversight of its people. When the watchful gaze of conscience and community prevails, it restrains the excesses of those intoxicated by power and wealth, guiding them toward justice and moderation.

Consider the example of the Roman Republic, where unchecked ambition and the lust for authority by figures such as Julius Caesar nearly tore the republic asunder. It was only through the persistent vigilance of senators, citizens, and the principles of collective governance that the republic endured, though barely. Here, as Adams teaches, the pervading moral eye serves as both shield and guide, curbing excess and preserving the good of the many over the desires of the few.

O children of the future, carry this teaching in your hearts: the allure of power and wealth is eternal, yet it is restrained not by fear of punishment alone, but by the righteous watchfulness of society itself. Let virtue guide your actions, let conscience temper ambition, and let the community remain vigilant, for in these guardians of morality lies the strength to prevent ruin.

Thus, remember the eternal truth: unchecked passions are the seed of downfall, while the vigilant eyes of the virtuous are the guardians of society. Through this union of moral courage and collective wisdom, human communities may endure, flourish, and resist the ruin that so often follows the unbridled pursuit of power and wealth.

If you desire, I can also craft a visual, ancient scroll-style presentation of this passage to capture the heroic and timeless resonance of Adams’ teaching.