Nelson Mandela on liberty

For me, survival is the ability to cope with difficulties, with circumstances, and to overcome them.

The whole purpose of a husband and wife is that when hard times knock at the door you should be able to embrace each other.

I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man.

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