Quotes by Patrick Henry

“Give me liberty or give me death."[From a speech given at Saint John's Church in Richmond, Virginia on March 23, 1775 to the Virginia House of Burgesses; as first published in print in 1817 in William Wirt's .]””

“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.””

“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?””

“The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.””

“The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I Am Not A Virginian, But An American!””

“The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.””

“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.””

“I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past.””

“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.””

“Are we at last brought to such a humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our own defense?””

“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who comes near that precious jewel. Unfortunately, nothingwill preserve it but downright force. When you give up that force, you are ruined. ””

“If this be treason, make the most of it!””

“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.””