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Quotes about liberty

136 quotes from 75 people

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In the future days which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression — everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way — everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want … everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear … anywhere in the world.
Franklin D. Roosevelt1882–1945State of the Union Address (6 January 1941)
- Freedom
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
Thomas Jefferson1743–1826The Declaration of Independence (1776), Declaration of Independence (4 July 1776), which he draftedIn context
- America
Liberty, equality, fraternity, or death;⁠—the last, much the easiest to bestow, O Guillotine!
Charles Dickens1812–1870A Tale of Two Cities (1859), Book the Third: The Track of a Storm, Chapter VIn context
- Life & Death
America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.
Katharine Lee Bates1859–1929America the Beautiful (1895)In context
- America
- Laws
Chivalry!⁠—why, maiden, she is the nurse of pure and high affection⁠—the stay of the oppressed, the redresser of grievances, the curb of the power of the tyrant⁠—Nobility were but an empty name without her, and liberty finds the best protection in her lance and her sword.
Walter Scott1771–1832Ivanhoe (1819), Chapter XXIXIn context
- Honor
Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau1712–1778The Social Contract (1762), Book I, Chapter IIn context
- Freedom
Tranquillity is found also in dungeons; but is that enough to make them desirable places to live in?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau1712–1778The Social Contract (1762), Book I, Chapter IVIn context
- Freedom
To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties. For him who renounces everything no indemnity is possible. Such a renunciation is incompatible with man’s nature; to remove all liberty from his will is to remove all morality from his acts.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau1712–1778The Social Contract (1762), Book I, Chapter IVIn context
- Morality
The only freedom which deserves the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it.
John Stuart Mill1806–1873On Liberty (1859), Chapter IIn context
- Freedom
Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.
James Madison1751–1836Federalist No. 10 (November 22, 1787)In context
- Politics
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
CCConstitutional ConventionThe Constitution of the United States (September 17, 1787), PreambleIn context
- America
- Government
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
United States CongressThe Bill of Rights (Proposed 1789, ratified 1791), Amendment IIn context
- Freedom
- Religion
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
United States CongressThe Bill of Rights (Proposed 1789, ratified 1791), Amendment IIIn context
- Guns
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
United States CongressThe Bill of Rights (Proposed 1789, ratified 1791), Amendment IVIn context
- Justice
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
United States CongressThe Bill of Rights (Proposed 1789, ratified 1791), Amendment VIn context
- Justice