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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.

Patrick Henry

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.
PATRICK HENRY

Myself Spirit Truth Willing Worst
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
I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past.
PATRICK HENRY

Future Judgement Myself Past
This is all the inheritance I give to my dear family. The religion of Christ will give them one which will make them rich indeed.
PATRICK HENRY

Family Myself Religion Rich
Gentlemen may cry peace, peace- but there is no peace! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why should we idle here?…I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
PATRICK HENRY

Death Liberty Ourselves Peace
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.
PATRICK HENRY

Democracy Government Live People
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

Liberty People Rule Secure
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 ruined…. The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun.
PATRICK HENRY

Attention Force Liberty Man Ruin Weapon Yourself
Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who comes near that precious jewel. Unfortunately, nothing.
PATRICK HENRY

Attention Important Liberty
The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.
PATRICK HENRY

Alone Battle Brave Strong
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
Suspicion is a virtue as long as its object is the public good, and as long as it stays within proper bounds. Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel.
PATRICK HENRY

Attention Goodness Jealous Liberty Public Virtue
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 have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.
PATRICK HENRY

Experience Myself
It is the business of a virtuous clergy to censure vice in every appearance of it.
PATRICK HENRY

Appearance Business Vice
Beside, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone.
PATRICK HENRY

Alone Battle Fight
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
Will preserve it but downright force. When you give up that force, you are ruined.
PATRICK HENRY

Force Preserve Ruin Will
Liberty, the greatest of all earthly blessings – give us that precious jewel and you may take everything else!
PATRICK HENRY

Blessing Greatness Liberty
Mr. President, 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

Eyes Hope Illusion Listen Man Nature Ourselves Pain Song Transformation Truth
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
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
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
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
I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.
PATRICK HENRY

Dream Future History Myself Past
It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.
PATRICK HENRY

Forget God People Prison
If this be treason, make the most of it!
PATRICK HENRY

Death Funny

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.

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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.

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