Patrick Henry Quotes, Quotations, and Sayings

21 Famous Quotes by Patrick Henry
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“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.”
Government Quotes
“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.”
Constitution Quotes
“It is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts... For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth, to know the worst, and to provide for it.”
Illusion Quotes
“Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom. No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.”
Nations Quotes
“I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.”
Judgment Quotes
Source: Speech in the Virginia Convention
“Give me liberty, or give me death.”
Liberty Quotes
Source: in a speech
“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.”
Liberty Quotes
Source: in a speech
“I am not a Virginian but an American.”
Patriotism Quotes
Source: in the Continental Congress
“I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”
Patriotism Quotes
Source: in the Continental Congress
“Tarquin and Caesar had each his Brutus--Charles the First, his Cromwell--and George the Third--("Treason!" shouted the Speaker) may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it.”
Treason Quotes
Source: Speech
“I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.”
Experience Quotes
Source: in a speech at the Virginia Convention
“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.”
Jewels Quotes
“I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.”
Liberty Quotes
“It is natural to man to indulge in the illusion of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of the siren, till she transforms us into beasts.”
Inspirational Quotes
“I know not what others may choose but, as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”
Inspirational Quotes
“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.”
Politics / government Quotes
“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!”
Politics / government Quotes
“Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?”
Politics / government Quotes
“I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.”
Politics / government Quotes
“He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt.”
Death / immortality Quotes
“I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.”
Experience Quotes
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