Liberty Quotes

Liberty 4U

Throughout history mankind has voiced its thoughts on what Liberty is. This forum is meant to show that Liberty has always been of great concern to humans, and has always and forever been on humanity's mind.

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." --Benjamin Franklin, 1759

Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech. --Benjamin Franklin

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty. --John F. Kennedy

There is no conflict between liberty and safety. We will have both or neither. --Ramsey Clark

The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground. --Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

The historian, essentially, wants more documents than he can really use; the dramatist only wants more liberties than he can really take.--Henry James (1888)

I know not what course orthers may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!--Patrick Henry (1818)

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it's natural manure--Thomas Jefferson (1787)

The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.--Edmund Burke (1784)

Abstract liberty, like other adstractions, is not to be found--Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

I rejoice that America has resisted. Three millions of people, so dead to all the feelings of liberty, as voluntarily to submit to be slaves, would have been fit instruments to make slaves of the rest.--William Pitt (1766)

Eternal spirit of the chainless mind! Brightest in dungeons, Liberty! thou art.--Lord Byron (1788-1824 )

Forscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.--Abraham Lincon (Gettysburd Address- Nov. 19, 1863)

In honoured poverty thy, voice did weave Songs consecrate to truth and liberty, Deserting these, thou leavest me to grieve, Thus having been, that thou shouldst cease to be.--Percy Bysshe Shelley-( )

Venice, the eldest Child of Liberty, She was a maiden City, bright and free.--William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

Give me the librety to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.--John Milton ( 1608-1674)

Swift has sailed into his rest; Savage indignation there Cannot lacerate his breast. Imitate him if you dare, World-bestotted traveller; he Served human liberty.--W.B. Yeats (1865-1939)

Easy I am so far, that ill success of the American war has saved us from slavery--in truth. I am content that liberty will exist anywhere, and amongst Englishmen, even cross the Atlantic--Horace Walpole ( 1717-1797)

I must have liberty withal, as large a charter as the wind, To blow on whom I please.--William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Power is apt to be insolent and Liberty to be saucy, that they are very seldom upon good terms.--George Savile (1796-1865)

Resolve not to be poor; whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable and others extremely difficult.--Samuel Johnson (1782)

A University should be a place of light, of liberty, and of learning.--Benjamin Disraeli (1873)

Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.--Daniel Webster (1782-1852)

Among a people generaly corrupt, liberty cannot long exist.--Edmund Burke ( 1729-1797)

The only liberty I mean, is liberty connected with order; that not only exists along withorder and virtue, but which cannot exist at all without them.--Edmund Burke (1774)

Liberty consists in doing what one desires.-- Thomas Middleton (1570?-1627)

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.--George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

The liberty of the individual must be thus far limited; he must not make hinself a nuisance to other people.--John Stuart Mill ( 1806-1873)

Measure For Measure

Now, as fond fathers, having bound up the threat' ning twigs of birch, only to stick it in their children's sight for terror, not to use, in time the rod becomes more mock'd than fear'd; so our decrees, dead to infliction, to themselves are dead, and liberty plucks justice by the nose; the baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart goes all decorum.--William Shakespeare ( 1564-1616)

A fig for those by law protected! Liberty's a glorious feast! Courts of cowards were erecteed, churches built to please priest.--Robert Burns ( 1759-1796)

My dear liberty, shall I leave thee? My faithful solitude, my darling contemplation, must I bid you then adieu? Ay-h adieu--My morning throughts, agreeable wakings, indolent slumbers, all ye douceurs, ye sommeils du matin, adieu--I can't do't, tis more than impossible.--William Congreve (1670-1729)

Liberty isn't a gift, nor a right. People tend to expected gifts and rights, people tend to become complacent with gifts and rights, and then people take them for granted. Liberty is an obligation and a commitment, a duty and a mission, a passion and a desire. This is true for all peoples whom seek to maintain Liberty, Justice and Peace for all of mankind--Larry J. Brugh (1997)

Quotes taken form Oxford's Dictionary of Quotations, third edition. I have a hundred more of these quotes I could place here, and in time I might do that, but for now if you have a Liberty quote send it to me and I may just get posted here.

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