We have proclaimed to the world our determination 'to die

Hear, O children of liberty, the fiery words of Samuel Adams, the Son of the American Revolution: “We have proclaimed to the world our determination ‘to die freemen, rather than to live slaves.’ We have appealed to Heaven for the justice of our cause, and in Heaven we have placed our trust.” These words thunder like the clash of swords, echoing across the centuries, spoken not in calm reflection but in the heat of a struggle where the fate of nations trembled in the balance. They are a declaration, both to men and to God, that the dignity of freedom is worth more than the breath of life itself.

The origin of this cry is found in the crucible of America’s rebellion against Britain. The colonies, weary of tyranny and taxation without representation, stood at the edge of despair. Their armies were ragged, their resources meager, their enemy mighty. Yet Samuel Adams, a prophet among patriots, lifted his voice not with despair but with resolve. His words were both shield and sword, binding men together under the banner of freedom, and reminding them that the cause of liberty is no mere earthly quarrel but a sacred trust placed before Heaven itself.

For Adams and his companions, freedom was not a gift granted by kings, but a right bestowed by the Almighty. Thus, to surrender that right was not merely cowardice, but betrayal of the divine order. To live as slaves—bound by unjust rulers, stripped of self-governance—was worse than death, for it was to dishonor the very spark of God placed within man. In this belief lay their unshakable courage. They proclaimed before the world that chains, however gilded, were intolerable, and that their souls would rather ascend to Heaven in defiance than endure bondage upon the earth.

History itself bears witness to the truth of these words. Recall the grim winter at Valley Forge, when Washington’s army, barefoot and starving, clung to hope by threads. They had no guarantee of victory, only the certainty of suffering. And yet, sustained by faith, they endured. They trusted in Heaven’s justice, believing that though the struggle was fierce, righteousness would prevail. And indeed, in time, their cause triumphed, and a new nation was born—not by the strength of arms alone, but by the power of conviction rooted in divine trust.

The meaning of Adams’ words transcends his own age. Every generation faces its tyrannies—sometimes in the form of governments, sometimes in the form of injustice, oppression, or fear. The cry to “die freemen rather than to live slaves” is the eternal anthem of the human spirit, declaring that dignity and liberty are greater treasures than safety, comfort, or even life itself. To appeal to Heaven is to confess that justice is not merely written in law books, but in the eternal order of creation, where truth and freedom are sacred and cannot be extinguished.

The lesson for us, O listener, is clear. Freedom is not maintained by silence or passivity, but by courage, sacrifice, and trust. In our own lives, we must be willing to resist the chains of fear, corruption, and conformity, even when the price is high. To live truly free requires vigilance of spirit, boldness of speech, and the willingness to act when conscience demands. Without these, we may live long, but as shadows—survivors, not freemen.

Therefore, let each soul take action: Speak truth even when it trembles upon your lips. Defend the weak against the strong. Resist the creeping chains of dishonor, whether they come from tyrants, from greed, or from within yourself. Place your trust in Heaven, but let your hands labor fiercely, for Heaven works through those who dare to act. Remember always that liberty is both a gift and a responsibility, requiring each generation to proclaim anew: We will not be slaves.

So let these words of Samuel Adams be carved upon your heart: freedom is worth more than life, and trust in Heaven is the shield that makes the weak mighty. To live as a freeman is to live in truth, and to die for liberty is to ascend crowned with honor. Such is the eternal teaching of the fathers, passed down to the children, and to their children after them.