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I want you to understand that I respect the rights of the poorest and weakest of colored people, oppressed by the slave system, just as much as I do those of the most wealthy and powerful. That is the idea that has moved me, and that alone.

John Brown

Tis mean for empty praise of wit to write, As fopplings grin to show their teeth are white.
JOHN BROWN

Empty Raise Smile White Writing
Holiness does not consist in mystic speculations, enthusiastic fervours, or uncommanded austerities; it consists in thinking as God thinks, and willing as God wills.
JOHN BROWN

Enthusiasm God Holy Mystery Thinking Willing
The intent and not the deed Is in our power; and, therefore, who dares greatly Does greatly.
JOHN BROWN

Action Dare Greatness Inspirational Power
These men are all talk; What is needed is action – action!
JOHN BROWN

Action Man Need Talk
Symptoms are the body’s mother tongue; signs are in a foreign language.
JOHN BROWN

Body Foreign Language Mom Sign
The United States is a place where the men govern, but the women rule.
JOHN BROWN

Government Man Place Rule State Woman
It is not a case we are treating; it is a living, palpitating, alas, too often suffering fellow creature.
JOHN BROWN

Compassionate Creature Live Suffering Treat
Now let us thank th’ eternal power, convinced That Heaven but tries our virtue by affliction: That oft the cloud that wraps the present hour Serves but to brighten all our future days.
JOHN BROWN

Forever Future Ourselves Power Present Spiritual Thankful
I never wanted to fight against the Union, but could not turn my back on Virginia.
JOHN BROWN

Betrayal Fight Myself Patriot Unity
Had I so interfered in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, the so-called great, or in behalf of any of their friends…every man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment.
JOHN BROWN

Act Friendship Myself Powerful Punishment Rich Worth
I am quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think vainly, flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done.
JOHN BROWN

Blood Certain Guilty Land Myself Quite
Here, before God, in the presence of these witnesses, from this time, I consecrate my life to the destruction of slavery!
JOHN BROWN

Destruction God Life Presence Slave Time
I will answer anything I can with honor, but not about others.
JOHN BROWN

Ethics Myself Question Respect
The same eye cannot both look up to heaven and down to earth.
JOHN BROWN

Earth Eyes Heaven
I want you to understand that I respect the rights of the poorest and weakest of colored people, oppressed by the slave system, just as much as I do those of the most wealthy and powerful. That is the idea that has moved me, and that alone.
JOHN BROWN

Color Myself People Poor Powerful Respect Right Understand Weakness Wealth
I am worth inconceivably more to hang than for any other purpose.
JOHN BROWN

Myself Purpose Worth
Be mild with the mild, shrewd with the crafty, confiding to the honest, rough to the ruffian, and a thunderbolt to the liar. But in all this, never be unmindful of your own dignity.
JOHN BROWN

Craft Dignity Honesty Lying Mild Mindset Ourselves
I have been whipped, as the saying is, but I am sure I can recover all the lost capital occasioned by that disaster; by only hanging a few moments by the neck; and I feel quite determined to make the utmost possible out of a defeat.
JOHN BROWN

Capital Defeat Determination Feeling Lost Moments Myself Possible Quite Recovery
Caution, Sir! I am eternally tired of hearing that word caution. It is nothing but the word of cowardice!
JOHN BROWN

Coward Forever Myself Word
I cannot remember a night so dark as to have hindered the coming day.
JOHN BROWN

Darkness Myself Night Remember
So far as I ever observed God’s dealings with my soul, the flights of preachers sometimes entertained me, but it was Scripture expressions which did penetrate my heart, and in a way peculiar to themselves.
JOHN BROWN

Deal Entertainment God Observation Scripture Soul Way Weird
The angels are ministering spirits; they are not governing spirits.
JOHN BROWN

Angel Government Spirit
I am gaining in health slowly, and am quite cheerful in view of my approaching end, – being fully persuaded that I am worth inconceivably more to hang than any other purpose.
JOHN BROWN

End Health Myself Purpose Quite Slow View Worth
I don’t think the people of the slave states will ever consider the subject of slavery in its true light till some other argument is resorted to other than moral persuasion.
JOHN BROWN

Argument Light Moral Myself People Subject Thinking True
I think every family should have a dog; it is like having a perpetual baby; it is the plaything and crony of the whole house. It keeps them all young.
JOHN BROWN

Children Dog Family Home Play Thinking Young
There is a shrine in the temple of age, where lie forever embalmed the memories of such as have deserved well of their country and their race.
JOHN BROWN

Age Country Deserve Forever Lying Race Temple

I want you to understand that I respect the rights of the poorest and weakest of colored people, oppressed by the slave system, just as much as I do those of the most wealthy and powerful. That is the idea that has moved me, and that alone.

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I want you to understand that I respect the rights of the poorest and weakest of colored people, oppressed by the slave system, just as much as I do those of the most wealthy and powerful. That is the idea that has moved me, and that alone.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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