Sam Houston Quotes

Quotes about:

Civil War Doubt Fathers War

When a government has ceased to protect the lives, liberty, and property of the people ... and ... becomes an instrument in the hands of evil rulers for their oppression ... it is a ... sacred obligation to their posterity to abolish such government, and create another in its stead.

Sam Houston

Government, Hands, People

30 Copy quote
Texas can make it without the United States, but the United States cannot make it without Texas

Sam Houston

Texas, United States, States

63 Copy quote
Do right and risk the consequences.

Sam Houston

Cowboy, Risk, Consequence

78 Copy quote
A leader is someone who helps improve the lives of other people or improve the system they live under.

Sam Houston

Leadership, People, Helping

85 Copy quote
Govern wisely, and as little as possible

Sam Houston

Wise, Power, Political

85 Copy quote
I humble myself before God, and there the list ends.

Sam Houston

Humble, Lists, Ends

"Fictional character: Sam Houston". "The Alamo", www.imdb.com. 2004.

37 Copy quote
Texas will again lift it's head and stand among the nations. It ought to do so, for no country upon the globe can compare with it in natural advantages.

Sam Houston

Country, Texas, Natural

Sam Houston (1940). “The Writings of Sam Houston, 1813-1863”

47 Copy quote
Let me tell you what is coming. After the sacrifice of countless millions of treasure and hundreds of thousands of lives you may win Southern independence, but I doubt it. The North is determined to preserve this Union. They are not a fiery, impulsive people as you are, for they live in colder climates. But when they begin to move in a given direction, they move with the steady momentum and perseverance of a mighty avalanche.

Sam Houston

Perseverance, War, Moving

"Sam Houston". Book by James L. Haley, p. 397, 2004.

33 Copy quote
Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may.

Sam Houston

Texas, May, Oppression

42 Copy quote
Texas is the finest portion of the globe that has ever blessed my vision!

Sam Houston

Blessed, Texas, Vision

Sam Houston (1941). “The Writings of Sam Houston, 1813-1863: 1824-1854”

32 Copy quote
The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government.

Sam Houston

Education, Government, Aquariums

26 Copy quote
He has all the characteristics of a dog - except loyalty.

Sam Houston

Loyalty, Dog, Luck

11 Copy quote
We view ourselves on the eve of battle. We are nerved for the contest, and must conquer or perish. It is vain to look for present aid: none is at hand. We must now act or abandon all hope! Rally to the standard, and be no longer the scoff of mercenary tongues! Be men, be free men, that your children may bless their father's name.

Sam Houston

Children, Father, Men

Sam Houston, Eugene Campbell Barker (1939). “The writings of Sam Houston, 1813-1863”

38 Copy quote
I would give no thought of what the world might say of me, if I could only transmit to posterity the reputation of an honest man.

Sam Houston

Honesty, Character, Men

26 Copy quote
I am aware that in presenting myself as the advocate of the Indians and their rights, I shall stand very much alone.

Sam Houston

Rights, Advocating, Presenting

27 Copy quote
I have ever been opposed to banks, - opposed to internal improvements by the general government, - opposed to distribution of public lands among the states, - opposed to taking the power from the hands of the people, - opposed to special monopolies, - opposed to a protective tariff, - opposed to a latitudinal construction of the constitution, - opposed to slavery agitation and disunion. This is my democracy. Point to a single act of my public career not in keeping with these principles.

Sam Houston

Hands, Land, Careers

34 Copy quote
All new states are invested, more or less, by a class of noisy, second-rate men who are always in favor of rash and extreme measures, but Texas was absolutely overrun by such men.

Sam Houston

Men, Second Chance, Texas

17 Copy quote
To secede from the Union and set up another government would cause war. If you go to war with the United States, you will never conquer her, as she has the money and the men. If she does not whip you by guns, powder, and steel, she will starve you to death. It will take the flower of the country - the young men.

Sam Houston

Country, War, Flower

13 Copy quote
It is a matter of great satisfaction to me to hope that my children will be in circumstances to receive a good education. Mine was defective and I feel the inconvenience, if not the misfortune of not receiving a classical education. Knowledge is the food of genius, and my son, let no opportunity escape you to treasure up knowledge.

Sam Houston

Children, Son, Opportunity

Sam Houston (1941). “The Writings of Sam Houston, 1813-1863: 1828-1858”

17 Copy quote
A victim of the use of water as a beverage.

Sam Houston

Water, Use, Beverages

11 Copy quote
I beseech those whose piety will permit them reverently to petition, that they will pray for this union, and ask that He who buildeth up and pulleth down nations will, the mercy preserve and unite us. For a Nation divided against itself cannot stand. I wish, if this Union must be dissolved, that its ruins may be the monument of my grave, and the graves of my family. I wish no epitaph to be written to tell that I survive the ruin of this glorious Union.

Sam Houston

Wish, Ruins, Unions

22 Copy quote
Texas, to be respected must be polite. Santa Anna living, can be of incalculable benefit to Texas; Santa Anna dead, would just be another dead Mexican.

Sam Houston

Texas, Mexican, Benefits

13 Copy quote
I preferred measuring deer tracks to tape - that I liked the wild liberty of the Red men better then the tyranny of my brothers.

Sam Houston

Brother, Men, Track

12 Copy quote
In the name of the constitution of Texas, which has been trampled upon, I refuse to take this oath. I love Texas too well to bring civil strife and bloodshed upon her.

Sam Houston

Texas, Names, Civil War

Sam Houston (1943). “The Writings of Sam Houston, 1813-1863: 1825-1863”

42 Copy quote
I would lay down my life to defend any one of the States from aggression, which endangered peace or threatened its institutions. I could do more for the union, but I wish to do more; for the destruction of the union would be the destruction of all the States. A stab in the heart is worse then a cut in a limb, for this may be healed.

Sam Houston

Heart, Cutting, Wish

Sam Houston (1941). “The writings of Sam Houston, 1813-1863”

13 Copy quote

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Born: March 2, 1793
Died: July 26, 1863
Occupation: Former United States Senator
Cite this Page: Citation

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