Home / Authors / 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.

Filter quotes by topic

All Liberty People American Revolution May Men Ifs Giving Revolution War Arms Government Militia Bearing Arms Rights Slavery Constitution Knows 4th Of July Amendments Country

Famous Patrick Henry Quotes

“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

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

People Forget Rights Morality Chains Tyrants American Revolution Good Citizen Adherence American Liberty Nigeria Independence Recurrence

Author:Patrick Henry

“Is it not amazing that at a time when the rights of humanity are defined and understood with precision, in a country, above all others, fond of liberty-that in such an age and in such a country we find men professing a religion the most humane, mild, gentle and generous, adopting a principle as repugnant to humanity as it is inconsistent with the Bible, and destructive to liberty?”

Men Country Age Humanity Liberty Principles Rights Understood Slavery Defined Gentle Generous Destructive Humane Find Me Precision Inconsistent Adopting

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

“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

“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?”

People Men Country Shows Age Chance Loss Liberty Rights Be Good Good Man Sole Rulers Show Me

Book: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

Source: 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

“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.”

Mean Doe War Government Rights Tyrants Objections Bearing Arms Waging War

Book: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

Source: 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

“The King has degenerated into a tyrant and forfeits all rights to his subjects' obedience.”

Rights Subjects Revolution Kings Obedience Tyrants American Revolution Forfeit

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

“Away with your president! We shall have a king... the army will salute him as monarch; your militia will leave you and assist in making him king and fight against you. And what have you to oppose this force? What will then become of you and your rights?”

Fighting Force President Rights Revolution Kings Army American Revolution Monarchs Salute Militia

“....I am sure that the dangers of this system (the Federal Constitution) are real, when those who have no similar interest with the people of this country (the South) are to legislate for us - when our dearest rights are to be left, in the hands of those, whose advantage it will be to infringe them.”

People Real Country Hands Left Interest Rights Danger Advantage Constitution South

Author:Patrick Henry