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Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry Quotes

Governor of Virginia

Patrick Henry, born on May 29, 1736, and died on June 6, 1799, was a prominent political figure and orator during the American Revolutionary War. He served as the Governor of Virginia and is remembered for his passionate speeches and unwavering stance. Henry is famous for his famous slogan 'Give me liberty or give me death' in a speech before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which inspired many Americans to join the fight for independence.

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Famous Patrick Henry Quotes

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

People May Government Political Politics Freedom Liberty Information Secure Rulers 4th Of July Secrecy Transparency Concealed Fake People Transactions Concealment

Author:Patrick Henry

“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!”

Knows Giving May War America Death Courses Freedom Business Liberty History Society Sweet Revolution Ethics Give Me Slavery Dear Libertarian Chains Patriotism Patriotic Amendments Libertarianism Almighty Patriot Founding 4th Of July Freedom And Liberty Freedom Liberty Our Founding Fathers Property Rights American Revolution Limited Government Total War Founding Fathers Christian Price Almighty God Bearing Arms Founding Fathers Religion Individual Liberty American Government Limiting Government Rights And Freedoms American Founding Fathers American Patriotic Limited Freedom Great Patriotic Us Constitution American Patriotism American Liberty Founding Fathers Democracy America Freedom Patriotism In America Price Of Freedom Revolution Founding Fathers Good Patriotic Limiting Freedom Constitutional Law Constitutional Government God And Country Tyranny Founding Fathers Security And Freedom American Independence Day Inspiring Patriotic Security And Liberty

Author:Patrick Henry

“For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and provide for it.”

Knows May Whole Truth Spirit Worst Honesty Willing Integrity Cost Planning Anguish Sirens Whole Truth Painful Truth

Author:Patrick Henry

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

Knows Inspirational Giving May Death Liberty Give Me Patriotism

Author:Patrick Henry

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

May Loses Liberty Forever Rights Ought Jealous Cautious Trial By Jury

Book:Patrick Henry in his speeches and writings and in the words of his contemporaries

Source: Patrick Henry in his speeches and writings and in the words of his contemporaries

“Liberty, the greatest of all earthly blessings - give us that precious jewel and you may take everything else!”

Giving May Liberty Blessing Jewels Precious Jewels

Book:Patrick Henry in his speeches and writings and in the words of his contemporaries

Source: Patrick Henry in his speeches and writings and in the words of his contemporaries

“The battle, Sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, Sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable; and let it come! I repeat, Sir, let it come!”

“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!”

“Is the relinquishment of the trial by jury and the liberty of the press necessary for your liberty? Will the abandonment of your most sacred rights tend to the security of your liberty? Liberty, the greatest of all earlthy blessings - give us that precious jewel, and you may take every things else! . . . Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel.”

Giving May Freedom Attention Liberty Rights Security Blessing Approach Sacred Presses Trials Suspects Jealous Jewels Abandonment Jury Trial By Jury Precious Jewels

Author:Patrick Henry

“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.”

Ifs Firsts May History Example Thirds Profit Speakers Cried Treason Brutus Cromwell Stamp Act

Author:Patrick Henry

“The Constitution is said to have beautiful features; but when I come to examine these features, Sir, they appear to me horribly frightful. Among other deformities, it has an awful squinting - it squints towards monarchy. And does not this raise indignation in the breast of every true American? Your president may easily become king. Where are your checks in this government? I would rather infinitely - and I am sure most of this convention are of the same opinion - have a king, lords, and commons than a government so replete with such insupportable evils.”

May Doe Said Government Beautiful Evil President Lord Opinion Kings Constitution Raises Checks Awful Features Breasts Conventions Monarchy Indignation Very True Deformity Squinting

Author:Patrick Henry

“Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace! – but there is no peace.”

May Cry Gentleman Patriotism Great Patriotic

Author:Patrick Henry

“Have we the means of resisting disciplined armies, when our only defense, the militia, is put in the hands of Congress? Of what service would militia be to you when, most probably, you will not have a single musket in the state? For, as arms are to be provided by Congress, they may or may not provide them.”

May Mean States Hands Arms Army Congress Defense Patriotism Resisting Militia

Author:Patrick Henry

“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.”

Knows Men May Whole Eye Political Spirit Song Politics Natural Worst Willing Cost Illusion Painful Beast Anguish Indulge Indulge In Sirens Whole Truth Painful Truth

Author:Patrick Henry

“I know some say, let us have good laws, and no matter for the men that execute them: but let them consider, that though good laws do well, good men do better: for good laws may want good men, and be abolished or evaded [invaded in Franklin's print] by ill men; but good men will never want good laws, nor suffer ill ones.”

Knows Men Want Wells May Matter Law Suffering He Man Ill Voting Good Man Print Franklin

Author:Patrick Henry

“You are not to inquire how your trade may be increased, nor how you are to become a great and powerful people, but how your liberties can be secured; for liberty ought to be the direct end of your government.”

People May Ends Government Powerful Liberty Ought Direct Trade Secured

Book:Patrick Henry in his speeches and writings and in the words of his contemporaries

Source: Patrick Henry in his speeches and writings and in the words of his contemporaries

“The officers of Congress, may come upon you now, fortified with all the terrors of paramount federal authority. Excisemen taxmen may come in multitudes; for the limitation of their numbers no man knows. They may, unless the general government be restrained ... go into your cellars and rooms, and search, ransack, and measure, everything you eat, drink, and wear.”

Knows Men May Government Rooms Numbers Drink Authority Congress Terror Limitation Officers Multitudes Taxation Paramount Cellars

Author:Patrick Henry