--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'But,' say the puling, pusillanimous…" description: "\"'But,' say the puling, pusillanimous cowards, 'we shall be subject to a long and bloody war if we declare independence.' On the contrary, I affirm it t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/samuel-adams-3491_cowards_but-say-the-puling-pusillanimous-cowards_1792047.jpg" --- # 'But,' say the puling, pusillanimous cowards, 'we shall be… ![“'But,' say the puling, pusillanimous cowards, 'we shall be subject to a long and bloody war if we declare independence.' On the contrary, I affirm it the only step that can bring the contest to a speedy and happy issue.” quote by Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/samuel-adams-3491_cowards_but-say-the-puling-pusillanimous-cowards_1792047.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/samuel-adams-3491_cowards_but-say-the-puling-pusillanimous-cowards_1792047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/samuel-adams-3491_cowards_but-say-the-puling-pusillanimous-cowards_1792047.jpg) > “'But,' say the puling, pusillanimous cowards, 'we shall be subject to a long and bloody war if we declare independence.' On the contrary, I affirm it the only step that can bring the contest to a speedy and happy issue.” [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates immediate independence as the fastest way to resolve conflict, rejecting fear‑based arguments for war. **In simple terms:** Independence ends war quickly. Key Takeaway Act now for peace. Themes independence conflict resolution political courage Mood determined urgent Type political historical When to use this quote - colonial rebellion - modern political movements - negotiations - peace talks Key Concepts revolution strategic decision public persuasion Questions to Reflect On - What are the costs of delaying decisive action? - How can leaders balance courage with prudence? A Different Perspective Risk of escalation if rushed without broad support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bloody War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bloody-war-1955187/) [Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards/) [Cowards Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards-shall-1955186/) [Declare Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declare-independence-1005722/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Pusillanimous Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pusillanimous-cowards-1955185/) [Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [First, I think more Americans need to declare their independence from partisan politics on both sides. The more that Americans declare their independence, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/first-i-think-more-americans-need-to-declare-their-independence-from/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [Taiwan will probably not declare independence. The question isn't independence. The issue is whether Taiwan will declare itself as a sovereign separate state. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/taiwan-will-probably-not-declare-independence-the-question-isn-t/) [Henry A. 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Americans will have a chance to vote for trade, immigration and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/come-november-the-american-people-will-have-the-chance-to-re-declare/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“Who cares?' she said impatiently, 'it's always one bloody war after another, and one knows the news is all lies anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/who-cares-she-said-impatiently-it-s-always-one-bloody-war-after/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“You can't take the bloody glamour out of bloody war...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-page/you-can-t-take-the-bloody-glamour-out-of-bloody-war/) [Tim Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-page/) > [It is almost inconceivable that citizens of that time were willing to support so bloody a war, by putting so high a price upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-novak/it-is-almost-inconceivable-that-citizens-of-that-time-were-willing-to/) [Michael Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-novak/) > [“When the country’s founding fathers declared independence from Dutch colonists in 1945, the declaration read, in its entirety: ‘We, the people of Indonesia, hereby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-pisani/when-the-country-s-founding-fathers-declared-independence-from-dutch/) [Elizabeth Pisani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-pisani/) > [But human beings are not machines, and however powerful the pressure to conform, they sometimes are so moved by what they see as injustice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/but-human-beings-are-not-machines-and-however-powerful-the-pressure/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“I merely declare my independence. I merely claim my choice of all the tools in the universe; and I shall not admit that any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/i-merely-declare-my-independence-i-merely-claim-my-choice-of-all-the/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Thank god our Founding Fathers didn't decide to declare independence in winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thank-god-our-founding-fathers-didn-t-decide-to-declare-independence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Swaraj means even under dominion status a capacity to declare independence at will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/swaraj-means-even-under-dominion-status-a-capacity-to-declare/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Declare independence, don't let them do that to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/declare-independence-don-t-let-them-do-that-to-you/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) > [One battle would do more towards a Declaration of Independence than a long chain of conclusive arguments in a provincial convention or the Continental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/one-battle-would-do-more-towards-a-declaration-of-independence-than-a/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I thank God that I have lived to see my country independent and free. She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/i-thank-god-that-i-have-lived-to-see-my-country-independent-and-free/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) ## More by Samuel Adams > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/crouch-down-and-lick-the-hands-which-feed-you-may-your-chains-sit/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free, but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/our-contest-is-not-only-whether-we-ourselves-shall-be-free-but/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [In the midst of these pleasing ideas we should be unfaithful to ourselves if we should ever lose sight of the danger to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/in-the-midst-of-these-pleasing-ideas-we-should-be-unfaithful-to/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [It behooves every American to encourage home manufactures, that our oppressors may feel through their pockets the effects of their blind folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/it-behooves-every-american-to-encourage-home-manufactures-that-our/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/all-might-be-free-if-they-valued-freedom-and-defended-it-as-they/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; second, to liberty; third, to property; together with the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/among-the-natural-rights-of-the-colonists-are-these-first-a-right-to/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Nil desperandum, -- Never Despair. That is a motto for you and me. All are not dead; and where there is a spark of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/nil-desperandum-never-despair-that-is-a-motto-for-you-and-me-all-are/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/if-ye-love-wealth-better-than-liberty-the-tranquility-of-servitude/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [It is not unfrequent to hear men declaim loudly upon liberty, who, if we may judge by the whole tenor of their actions, mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/it-is-not-unfrequent-to-hear-men-declaim-loudly-upon-liberty-who-if/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Let us contemplate our forefathers, and posterity, and resolve to maintain the rights bequeathed to us from the former, for the sake of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/let-us-contemplate-our-forefathers-and-posterity-and-resolve-to/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [If we suffer tamely a lawless attack upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/if-we-suffer-tamely-a-lawless-attack-upon-our-liberty-we-encourage-it/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I thank God that I have lived to see my country independent and free. 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They tax us without having legal representation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/if-our-trade-be-taxed-why-not-our-lands-or-produce-in-short/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [One battle would do more towards a Declaration of Independence than a long chain of conclusive arguments in a provincial convention or the Continental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/one-battle-would-do-more-towards-a-declaration-of-independence-than-a/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) [Explore all 129 Samuel Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) ## More Cowards quotes > [There will always be people who will first wait for somebody's comment and then attack them. I'll say they are just cowards. 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