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Congress may carry on the most wicked and pernicious of schemes under the dark veil of secrecy. The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.

Patrick Henry

I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
PATRICK HENRY

Choice Death Liberty Myself
It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.
PATRICK HENRY

Forget God People Prison
It is the business of a virtuous clergy to censure vice in every appearance of it.
PATRICK HENRY

Appearance Business Vice
Show me that age and country where the rights and liberties of the people were placed on the sole chance of their rulers being good men, without a consequent loss of liberty?
PATRICK HENRY

Goodness History Liberty Loss Man People Place Right
Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Beside, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of Nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.
PATRICK HENRY

Alone Destiny Enemy Fight Force Friendship God Liberty People
Beside, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone.
PATRICK HENRY

Alone Battle Fight
The battle, Sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, Sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable; and let it come! I repeat, Sir, let it come!
PATRICK HENRY

Alone Battle Brave Desire Enough Prison Slave Strong War
The great object is that every man be armed.
PATRICK HENRY

Greatness Man Weapon
The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I Am Not A Virginian, But An American!
PATRICK HENRY

Identity Myself Nation
Are we at last brought to such a humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our own defense?
PATRICK HENRY

Last Protection Trust
Patrick Henry wanted the Constitution to have a Bill of Rights attached to it — a list of powers that the government could never use against the people of the United States.
PATRICK HENRY

Attachment Government People Power Right
Bad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom.
PATRICK HENRY

Bad Citizenship Freedom Goodness Man
I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.
PATRICK HENRY

Dream Future History Myself Past
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

Freedom Home Moments Myself Slave
Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
PATRICK HENRY

Act Death Fear Guilty Heaven Loyalty Myself Opinion Time
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. If they had that and I had not given them one shilling they would have been rich; and if they had not that and I had given them all the world, they would be poor.
PATRICK HENRY

Family Material Myself Poor Religion Rich World
I am not a Virginian, but an American.
PATRICK HENRY

Identity Myself Nation
Liberty, the greatest of all earthly blessings – give us that precious jewel and you may take everything else!
PATRICK HENRY

Blessing Greatness Liberty
If this be treason, make the most of it!
PATRICK HENRY

Death Funny
Will preserve it but downright force. When you give up that force, you are ruined.
PATRICK HENRY

Force Preserve Ruin Will
Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who comes near that precious jewel. Unfortunately, nothing.
PATRICK HENRY

Attention Important Liberty
The eternal difference between right and wrong does not fluctuate, it is immutable.
PATRICK HENRY

Difference Philosophy Right Wrong
it is natural to 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.
PATRICK HENRY

Hope Illusion Listen Man Nature Ourselves Pain Transformation Truth
I believe a time will come when an opportunity will be offered to abolish this lamentable evil.
PATRICK HENRY

Believe Evil Myself Opportunity Time
Give me liberty or give me death.
PATRICK HENRY

Death Freedom Liberty Myself One Liner
A King, by disallowing Acts of this salutary nature, from being the father of his people, degenerated into a Tyrant and forfeits all rights to his subjects’ obedience.
PATRICK HENRY

Act Father Nature People Right Rule
Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell; and George the Third — [‘Treason!’ cried the Speaker] — may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it.
PATRICK HENRY

Death Literature

Congress may carry on the most wicked and pernicious of schemes under the dark veil of secrecy. The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.

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Popular Authors

Congress may carry on the most wicked and pernicious of schemes under the dark veil of secrecy. The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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