Patrick Henry Quotes

Quotes about:

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  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

  Fake People, Freedom, 4th Of July

  "The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: Volume 3". Book by Jonathan Elliot, 1836.

  172 Copy quote

• It is when a people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains.

  Patrick Henry

  Rights, Tyrants, People

  86 Copy quote
• 

  United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs.

  Patrick Henry

  Fall, Unions, Splits

  Speech on March 04, 1799. "Patrick Henry: Life, Correspondences and Speeches". Book by William Wirt Henry. Volume 2, p. 609-610, 1891.

  105 Copy quote

• My most cherished possession I wish I could leave you is my faith in Jesus Christ, for with Him and nothing else you can be happy, but without Him and with all else you'll never be happy.

  Patrick Henry

  Jesus, Wish, Christ

  59 Copy quote

• [Our Constitution] is an instrument for the people to restrain the government.

  Patrick Henry

  Government, People, Tyranny Founding Fathers

  99 Copy quote

• The militia is our ultimate safety. We can have no security without it. The great object is that every man be armed.

  Patrick Henry

  Men, Safety, Militia

  47 Copy quote

• Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom. No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

  Patrick Henry

  Freedom, 4th Of July, Blessing

  109 Copy quote

• Power is the great evil with which we are contending. We have divided power between three branches of government and erected checks and balances to prevent abuse of power. However, where is the check on the power of the judiciary? If we fail to check the power of the judiciary, I predict that we will eventually live under judicial tyranny.

  Patrick Henry

  Government, Evil, Abuse

  74 Copy quote

• It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, “Peace! Peace!” — but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! 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 stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

  Patrick Henry

  Life, Sweet, Peace

  Speech in Virginia Convention, Richmond, Va., 23 Mar. 1775.

  72 Copy quote

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

  Patrick Henry

  Country, Religious, Kings

  Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death, delivered 23 March 1775 at Henrico Parrish Church St, Richmond Virginia, Second Virginia Convention

  54 Copy quote

• You ought to be extremely cautious, watchful, jealous of your liberty; for instead of securing your rights, you may lose them forever.

  Patrick Henry

  Jealous, Rights, Forever

  Patrick Henry (2007). “Patrick Henry in his speeches and writings and in the words of his contemporaries”, Warwick House Publishing

  36 Copy quote

• 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 inevitably ruined.

  Patrick Henry

  Giving Up, 4th Of July, Jealous

  Virginia's U.S. Constitution ratification convention, June 5, 1788.

  89 Copy quote

• I know not what others may choose but, as for me, give me liberty or give me death.

  Patrick Henry

  Inspirational, Death, Giving

  57 Copy quote

• Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?

  Patrick Henry

  Real, Gun, Differences

  Speech on the Federal Constitution, Virginia Ratifying Convention, on June 09, 1788. "The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution". Book edited by Jonathan Elliot, volume 3, p. 168-169, 1836.

  90 Copy quote

• Were my soul trembling on the wing of eternity, were this hand freezing to death, were my voice choking with the last struggle, I would still, with the last gasp of that voice, implore you to remember the truth: God has given America to be free.

  Patrick Henry

  Struggle, Hands, Wings

  26 Copy quote

• Fear is the passion of slaves.

  Patrick Henry

  Fear, 4th Of July, Passion

  34 Copy quote

• 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

  Country, Loss, Men

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, Samuel Bryan, Patrick Henry (2017). “Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist: The Great Debate (Complete Articles & Essays in One Volume): Words that Traced the Path of the Nation - Founding Fathers’ Political and Philosophical Debate, Their Opinions and Arguments about the Constitution”, p.83, Madison & Adams Press

  34 Copy quote

• My great objection to this government is, that it does not leave us the means of defending our rights, or of waging war against tyrants.

  Patrick Henry

  War, Mean, Rights

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, Samuel Bryan, Patrick Henry (2017). “The Federalist Papers & Anti-Federalist Papers: Complete Edition of the Pivotal Constitution Debate: Including Articles of Confederation (1777), Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights & Other Amendments – All With Founding Fathers’ Arguments & Decisions about the Constitution”, p.74, Madison & Adams Press

  18 Copy quote

• Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?

  Patrick Henry

  Lying, Mean, Hands

  Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death, delivered 23 March 1775 at Henrico Parrish Church St, Richmond Virginia, Second Virginia Convention

  13 Copy quote

• . . . Virtue, morality, and religion. This is the armor, my friend, and this alone that renders us invincible. These are the tactics we should study. If we lose these, we are conquered, fallen indeed . . . so long as our manners and principles remain sound, there is no danger.

  Patrick Henry

  Long, Liberty, Sound

  22 Copy quote

• Bad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom.

  Patrick Henry

  Men, President, Citizens

  43 Copy quote

• The eternal difference between right and wrong does not fluctuate, it is immutable.

  Patrick Henry

  Differences, Doe, Morality

  29 Copy quote

• It is natural for 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... 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

  Song, Eye, Men

  Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death, delivered 23 March 1775 at Henrico Parrish Church St, Richmond Virginia, Second Virginia Convention

  30 Copy quote

• When the American spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different: Liberty, sir, was the primary object.

  Patrick Henry

  America, Liberty, Different

  Patrick Henry (2007). “Patrick Henry in his speeches and writings and in the words of his contemporaries”, Warwick House Publishing

  68 Copy quote

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

  Patrick Henry

  Inspirational, Veterans Day, Courage

  Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death, delivered 23 March 1775 at Henrico Parrish Church St, Richmond Virginia, Second Virginia Convention

  65 Copy quote

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