50+ Patrick Henry Quotes | Minimalist Quotes

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
When the American Spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different; Liberty, sir, was then the primary object.
PATRICK HENRY

Different Language Liberty Spirit Youth
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.
PATRICK HENRY

Democracy Government Live People
It is the business of a virtuous clergy to censure vice in every appearance of it.
PATRICK HENRY

Appearance Business Vice
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
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.
PATRICK HENRY

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

Forget God People Prison
The great object is that every man be armed.
PATRICK HENRY

Greatness Man Weapon
Will preserve it but downright force. When you give up that force, you are ruined.
PATRICK HENRY

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

Blessing Greatness Liberty
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
I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past.
PATRICK HENRY

Future Judgement Myself Past
The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.
PATRICK HENRY

Greatness Man Weapon
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
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
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
Fear is the passion of slaves.
PATRICK HENRY

Fear Passion Slave
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 believe a time will come when an opportunity will be offered to abolish this lamentable evil.
PATRICK HENRY

Believe Evil Myself Opportunity Time
The eternal difference between right and wrong does not fluctuate, it is immutable.
PATRICK HENRY

Difference Philosophy Right Wrong
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
I smell a rat.
PATRICK HENRY

Animal Myself
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
Beside, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone.
PATRICK HENRY

Alone Battle Fight
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

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