José Martí on liberty

Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy.

Man loves liberty, even if he does not know that he loves it. He is driven by it and flees from where it does not exist.

Peoples are made of hate and of love, and more of hate than love. But love, like the sun that it is, sets afire and melts everything.

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

Thomas Jefferson1743–1826Letter to William Stephens Smith (13 November 1787). Manuscript at the Library of Congress.

• War & Peace

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Benjamin Franklin1706–1790This was first used by Franklin for the Pennsylvania Assembly in its “Reply to the Governor” (November 11, 1755) Reply to the Governor

Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.

Benjamin Franklin1706–1790