I know not what others may choose but, as for me, give me liberty or give me death. Patrick Henry More Quotes by Patrick Henry More Quotes From Patrick Henry He that hath a blind conscience which sees nothing, a dead conscience which feels nothing, and a dumb conscience which says nothing, is in as miserable a condition as a man can be on this side of hell. Patrick Henry dumb sides men Jealousy is the only vice that gives no pleasure Patrick Henry jealousy vices giving It is natural to man to indulge in the illusion of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, till she transforms us into beasts. Patrick Henry eye truth hope Have we the means of resisting disciplined armies, when our only defense, the militia, is put in the hands of Congress? Of what service would militia be to you when, most probably, you will not have a single musket in the state? For, as arms are to be provided by Congress, they may or may not provide them. Patrick Henry army mean hands My great objection to this government is, that it does not leave us the means of defending our rights, or of waging war against tyrants. Patrick Henry rights war mean Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace! – but there is no peace. Patrick Henry patriotism gentleman may That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of the conscience; and it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other. Patrick Henry 4th-of-july christian exercise If we wish to be free; if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending; if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained - we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms, and to the God of hosts, is all that is left us. Patrick Henry military struggle mean . . . Virtue, morality, and religion. This is the armor, my friend, and this alone that renders us invincible. These are the tactics we should study. If we lose these, we are conquered, fallen indeed . . . so long as our manners and principles remain sound, there is no danger. Patrick Henry liberty sound long The King has degenerated into a tyrant and forfeits all rights to his subjects' obedience. Patrick Henry tyrants kings rights Away with your president! We shall have a king... the army will salute him as monarch; your militia will leave you and assist in making him king and fight against you. And what have you to oppose this force? What will then become of you and your rights? Patrick Henry army fighting kings I have the highest veneration of those Gentleman, -- but, Sir, give me leave to demand, what right had they to say, We, the People? My political curiosity, exclusive of my anxious solicitude for the public welfare, leads me to ask who authorized them to speak the language of, We, the People, instead of We, the States? States are the characteristics, and the soul of the confederation. If the States be not the agents of this compact, it must be one of great consolidated National Government of the people of all the States. Patrick Henry government giving people ....I am sure that the dangers of this system (the Federal Constitution) are real, when those who have no similar interest with the people of this country (the South) are to legislate for us - when our dearest rights are to be left, in the hands of those, whose advantage it will be to infringe them. Patrick Henry real rights country I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them, and that is the Christian religion. Patrick Henry christian giving religion Have we the means of resisting disciplined armies, when our only defence, the militia, is put in the hands of Congress? Patrick Henry army mean hands Righteousness alone can exalt them [America] as a nation. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this, and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself and encourage it in others. Patrick Henry practice america art The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery Patrick Henry slavery house country Hospitality invites to prayer before it checks credentials, welcomes to the table before administering the entrance exam. Patrick Henry hospitality tables prayer I know some say, let us have good laws, and no matter for the men that execute them: but let them consider, that though good laws do well, good men do better: for good laws may want good men, and be abolished or evaded [invaded in Franklin's print] by ill men; but good men will never want good laws, nor suffer ill ones. Patrick Henry voting law men Is it not amazing that at a time when the rights of humanity are defined and understood with precision, in a country, above all others, fond of liberty-that in such an age and in such a country we find men professing a religion the most humane, mild, gentle and generous, adopting a principle as repugnant to humanity as it is inconsistent with the Bible, and destructive to liberty? Patrick Henry rights men country
