I know how to move the people, but I know also where to stop in my own actions so that, when I strike, I shall be felt and not seen. Toussaint Louverture More Quotes by Toussaint Louverture More Quotes From Toussaint Louverture I was born a slave, but nature gave me a soul of a free man. Toussaint Louverture slave soul men It is easy to cut down the tree of liberty, but not so easy to restore it to life. Toussaint Louverture liberty cutting tree Whatever defamation of character my enemies are spreading about me, I do not feel the need to justify myself toward them. While discretion obliges me to remain silent, my duty compels me to prevent them from doing any more harm. Toussaint Louverture character enemy needs Unite; for combination is stronger than witchcraft. Toussaint Louverture combination unity stronger Citizens, not less generous than myself, let your most precious moments be employed in causing the past to be forgotten; let all my fellow-citizens swear never to recall the past; let them receive their misled brethren with open arms, and let them, in future, be on their guard against the traps of bad men. Toussaint Louverture myself future men past We are free today because we are the stronger; we will be slaves again when the government becomes the stronger. Toussaint Louverture will free government today They have in me struck down but the trunk of the tree; the roots are many and deep - they will shoot up again! Toussaint Louverture deep me roots tree It is not a liberty of circumstance, conceded to us alone, that we wish; it is the adoption absolute of the principle that no man, born red, black or white, can be the property of his fellow man. Toussaint Louverture alone man red black This gun is liberty; hold for certain that the day when you no more have it, you will be returned to slavery. Toussaint Louverture day you slavery gun I have undertaken vengeance. I want Liberty and Equality to reign in Saint-Domingue. I work to bring them into existence. Unite yourselves to us, brothers, and fight with us for the same cause. Toussaint Louverture fight equality want work I took up arms for the freedom of my color. It is our own - we will defend it or perish. Toussaint Louverture own will freedom color When it shall be known that, at the time which I was accused of wishing to sunder this island from France - my benefactress - I repeated the oath of fidelity to her, I take pleasure in believing that the government I own, and my fellow-citizens, will render me the justice I merit, and that the enemies of my brethren will be reduced to silence. Toussaint Louverture me silence justice time I shall not remind you, Citizen-Directors, of all I have done for the triumph of liberty, the prosperity of St. Domingo, the glory of the French Republic; nor will I protest to you my attachment to our mother country, to my duties; my respect to the constitution, to the laws of the Republic, and my submission to the government. Toussaint Louverture you respect government mother Avoid sloth, the mother of all vices! Toussaint Louverture avoid sloth vices mother I invite you, citizens, to open your eyes and to give serious attention to the future. Reflect on the disasters which may ensue from longer obstinacy. Submit to lawful authority, if you wish to preserve the South untouched. Save your families and your property. Toussaint Louverture eyes you future serious I am faithfully devoted to the Republic but will not serve it at the expense of my conscience and my honor. Toussaint Louverture i-am will conscience honor We went to labor in the fields, my wife and I, hand in hand. Scarcely were we conscious of the fatigues of the day. Heaven always blessed our toil. Toussaint Louverture day wife blessed heaven The heads of regiments are required to see that the troops join in prayer morning and evening as far as the service will permit. Toussaint Louverture service evening prayer morning The revolution of Saint Domingo was taking its course. I saw that the whites could not endure, because they were divided and because they were overpowered by numbers; I congratulated myself that I was a black man. Toussaint Louverture myself man revolution black God, who knows our most secret thoughts and who sees all, is witness to the purity of my principles. They are not founded on this barbarous ferocity that takes pleasure in shedding human blood. Toussaint Louverture thoughts principles god blood
