American Revolution Quotes

• The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending against all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks.

  Samuel Adams

  Country, Liberty, Hazards

  Samuel Adams (1968). “The Writings of Samuel Adams: 1770-1773”

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• If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.

  Thomas Paine

  Veterans Day, Time, Peace

  Thomas Paine (2003). “Common Sense, The Rights of Man and Other Essential Writings of ThomasPaine”, p.96, Penguin

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  I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

  Nathan Hale

  Inspirational, Life, Country

  Before being executed as a spy by the British, 22 September 1776, in Henry Phelps Johnston 'Nathan Hale, 1776' (1914) ch. 7.

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• We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Life, Change, Happiness

  Declaration of Independence (1776).

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• The Stamp Act imposed on the colonies by the Parliament of Great Britain is an ill-judged measure. Parliament has no right to put its hands into our pockets without our consent.

  George Washington

  Hands, Pockets, Revolution

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• Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.

  Benjamin Franklin

  4th Of July, Men, Law

  Benjamin Franklin (1907). “The Franklin Year Book: Maxims and Morals from the Great Philosopher”

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• I am determined to defend my rights and maintain my freedom or sell my life in the attempt.

  Nathanael Greene

  Life, Freedom, Rights

  Nathanael Greene, Richard K. Showman, Rhode Island Historical Society (2005). “The papers of General Nathanael Greene”

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

  Patrick Henry

  Rights, Tyrants, People

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  The end of democracy and the defeat of the American Revolution will occur when government falls into the hands of lending institutions and moneyed incorporations.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Fall, Government, Hands

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• The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.

  George Washington

  Freedom, 4th Of July, Patriotic

  "Biography / Personal Quotes". www.imdb.com.

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• Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.

  George Washington

  Perseverance, Age, Done

  George Washington (1840). “The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private”, p.62

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• It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Patriotic, Government, Desire

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• Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us.

  William O. Douglas

  Teaching, Rights In America, Political Revolution

  "The One Un-American Act". William O. Douglas' speech to the Author's Guild Council in New York on receiving the 1951 Lauterbach Award, December 3, 1952.

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• But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations ... This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution.

  John Adams

  Religious, Real, War

  Letter to Hezekiah Niles, 13 Feb. 1818

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• Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it.

  Thomas Paine

  Country, Winter, Cities

  Thomas Paine, Bruce Kuklick (2000). “Paine: Political Writings”, p.54, Cambridge University Press

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• We must be unanimous; there must be no pulling different ways; we must hang together.

  John Hancock

  Together, Different, Way

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  The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

  Thomas Paine

  Inspirational, Life, Motivational

  Thomas Paine (1817). “The Political Works of Thomas Paine: In Two Volumes”

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• We have it in our power to begin the world over again.

  Thomas Paine

  Change, Motivation, 4th Of July

  Common Sense appendix (1776)

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• The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave.

  Thomas Jefferson

  4th Of July, Sea, Liberty

  Thomas Jefferson, H. A. Washington (2011). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private”, p.182, Cambridge University Press

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• The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Freedom, War, Patriotic

  Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1786-1787”, p.263, Cosimo, Inc.

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  Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can.

  Samuel Adams

  Rights, Liberty, Together

  Samuel Adams (1946). “Samuel Adams: selections from his writings”

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• Our cause is noble; it is the cause of mankind!

  George Washington

  Noble, Revolution, Causes

  George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson, United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission (1779). “The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799”, p.313

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• 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

  Death, Sweet, Freedom

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

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• It is yet to be decided whether the Revolution must ultimately be considered as a blessing or a curse: a blessing or a curse, not to the present age alone, for with our fate will the destiny of unborn millions be involved.

  George Washington

  Fate, Destiny, Blessing

  George Washington (1835). “The writings of George Washington: being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes, and illustrations”, p.442

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• I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.

  John Adams

  Education, Philosophy, War

  John Adams (2003). “The Letters of John and Abigail Adams”, p.264, Penguin

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