Lajos Kossuth

“I can understand Communism, but not Socialism.”

“The time draws near, when a radical change must take place for the whole world in the management of diplomacy.”

“The Hungarian ministry begged the king earnestly to issue orders to all troops and commanders of fortresses in Hungary, enjoining fidelity to the Constitution, and obedience to the ministers of Hungary.”

“I came not to your glorious shores to enjoy a happy rest - I came not to gather triumphs of personal distinction, but as a humble petitioner, in my country's name, as its freely chosen constitutional leader, to entreat your generous aid.”

“Even in political considerations, now-a-days, you have stronger motives to feel interested in the fate of Europe than in the fate of the Central or Southern parts of America.”

“I consider no man honest who does not observe towards other nations the principles which he desires to be observed towards his own: and therefore I will not interfere in your domestic questions.”

“My nomination to be Governor was not to gratify ambition.”

“The policy of the house of Austria, which aimed at destroying the independence of Hungary as a state, has been pursued unaltered for three hundred years.”

“The principle of evil in Europe is the enervating spirit of Russian absolutism.”

“The house of Austria has publicly used every effort to deprive the country of its legitimate Independence and Constitution, designing to reduce it to a level with the other provinces long since deprived of all freedom, and to unite all in a common sink of slavery.”

“Your generous part in my liberation is taken by the world for the revelation of the fact, that the United States are resolved not to allow the despots of the world to trample on oppressed humanity.”

“Yet my humble capacity has not preserved me from calumnies.”

“It is chiefly in New York that I feel induced to urge this, because New York is, by innumerable ties, connected with Europe - more connected than several parts of Europe itself.”

“Now that I am a deputy, I will cease to be an agitator.”

“Now since France has three times in sixty years failed to obtain practical results from Political revolutions, all Europe is apt to press forward into new Social doctrine to regulate the future.”

“If I had undertaken the practical direction of military operations, and anything went amiss, I feared that my conscience would torture me, as guilty of the fall of my country, as I had not been familiar with military tactics.”

“The unspoken word never does harm.”

“I have to thank the People, the Congress, and the Government of the United States for my liberation.”

“You must be a power on earth, and must therefore accept all the consequences of this position.”

“Neutrality, as a lasting principle, is an evidence of weakness.”