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Quotes about liberty

136 quotes from 75 people

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Not for nothing was the revolver called an “equalizer.” Egalite implies liberte.
Edward Abbey1927–1989Abbey’s Road (1979)
- Guns
There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.
John Adams1735–1826Notes for an oration at Braintree (Spring 1772)
- Government
But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.
John Adams1735–1826Letter to Abigail Adams (7 July 1775)
- Freedom
Liberty, according to my metaphysics, is an intellectual quality; an attribute that belongs not to fate nor chance. Neither possesses it, neither is capable of it.
John Adams1735–1826Letter to John Taylor (15 April 1814)
- Philosophy
Property must be secured, or liberty cannot exist.
John Adams1735–1826Discourses on Davila (1790), No. 13
The conflict between the principle of liberty and the fact of slavery is coming gradually to an issue. Slavery has now the power, and falls into convulsions at the approach of freedom.
John Quincy Adams1767–1848Journal of John Quincy Adams (11 December 1838)
- Slavery
If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.
Samuel Adams1722–1803Speech in Philadelphia (1776)
- Freedom
The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule.
Samuel Adams1722–1803The Rights of the Colonists (1772)
Our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free, but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth for civil and religious liberty.
Samuel Adams1722–1803Speech in Philadelphia (1776)
The liberties of our Country, the freedom of our civil constitution are worth defending at all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks.
Samuel Adams1722–1803Essay, written under the pseudonym “Candidus,” in The Boston Gazette (14 October 1771), later published in The Life and Public Services of Samuel Adams (1865) by William Vincent Wells, p. 425
- Patriotism
Every natural right not expressly given up, or, from the nature of a social compact, necessarily ceded, remains.
Samuel Adams1722–1803The Rights of the Colonists (1772)
If Taxes are laid upon us in any shape without our having a legal Representation where they are laid, are we not reduced from the Character of free Subjects to the miserable State of tributary Slaves?
Samuel Adams1722–1803Instructions to Boston’s Representatives (May 1764), also quoted in Samuel Adams: Radical Puritan (1997), by William M. Fowler Jr., p. 51
- Government
A day, an hour, of virtuous liberty
Is worth a whole eternity in bondage.
Joseph Addison1672–1719Cato, A Tragedy (1713)
Death is better, a milder fate than tyranny.
Aeschylus525–456 BCAgamemnon, line 1364–1365
- Life & Death
So long as you do not achieve social liberty, whatever freedom is provided by the law is of no avail to you.
B. R. Ambedkar1891–1956Speech delivered to the Bombay Presidency Mahar Conference (31 May 1936)
- Freedom