Patrick Henry

“Shall we, who have laid the proud British lion at our feet, now be afraid of his whelps?”

“Do you remember any instance where tyranny was destroyed and freedom established on its ruins, among a people possessing so small a share of virtue and public spirit? I recollect none, and this more than the British arms makes me fearful of final success, without a reform.”

“If this be treason, make the most of it!”

“Would any one believe that I am master of slaves by my own purchase? I am drawn along by the general inconvenience of living without them.”

“It is natural to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes to that siren until she allures us to our death.”

“We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power... the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.”

“We are descended from a people whose government was founded on liberty; our glorious forefathers of Great Britain made liberty the foundation of everything. That country is become a great, mighty, and splendid nation; not because their government is strong and energetic, but, sir, because liberty is its direct end and foundation.”

“Fear is the passion of slaves.”

“הקריאה לחימוש ורצון האל נותרו לנו בלבד. אך לא נלחם בקרבנו לבדנו. ישנו אל הקובע את גורל האומות. הקרב, אדוני, אינו רק רע מוחלט. האם החיים כה יקרים או השלום כה נכסף עד כי ניתן להמירם במחיר שרשראות ועבדות? אוסר זאת אלוהינו הנעלה. אינני יודע באיזה כיוון יבחרו אחרים, אך לגבי אומר – תנו לי חירות או תנו לי מוות!”

“חשדנות היא דבר טוב באם היא קיימת לטובת הציבור.”

“ביחד נשרוד, לחוד ניפול. אל לנו להתפצל לסיעות אשר יהרסו את האיחוד בו קיומנו תלוי.”

“Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”

“Perfect freedom is as necessary to the health and vigor of commerce as it is to the health and vigor of citizenship.”

“It is a debt we owe to the purity of our religion to show that it is at variance with that law which warrants slavery.”

“The great object is that every man be armed.”

“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”

“The Bible is worth all the other books which have ever been printed.”

“Unite liberality with a just frugality; always reserve something for the hand of charity; and never let your door be closed to the voice of suffering humanity.”

“It is the business of a virtuous clergy to censure vice in every appearance of it.”

“The eternal difference between right and wrong does not fluctuate, it is immutable.”