Home / Authors / Richard Henry Lee

Richard Henry Lee

Richard Henry Lee Quotes

Former President of the Continental Congress

Richard Henry Lee was a prominent politician during the American Revolutionary War, serving as the President of the Continental Congress. Born on January 20, 1732, and passing away on June 19, 1794, Lee played a crucial role in the movement for American independence. He proposed the resolution for the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which was a pivotal moment in the war for American independence.

Famous Richard Henry Lee Quotes

“It must never be forgotten...that the liberties of the people are not so safe under the gracious manner of government as by the limitation of power.”

People Government Political Freedom Liberty Power Safe Limits Forgotten Limitation Never Forget Gracious

Author:Richard Henry Lee

“It is certainly true that a popular government cannot flourish without virtue in the people.”

People Government Liberty Virtue Moral Virtues

Book:Memoir of the Life of Richard H. Lee, and His Correspondence with the Most Distinguished Men in America and Europe

Source: Memoir of the Life of Richard H. Lee, and His Correspondence with the Most Distinguished Men in America and Europe

“To say that a bad government must be established for fear of anarchy is really saying that we should kill ourselves for fear of dying.”

Should Government Political Fear Liberty Dying Killing Libertarian Anarchy Libertarianism Bad Government Fear Of Dying

Book:Memoir of the Life of Richard H. Lee, and His Correspondence with the Most Distinguished Men in America and Europe

Source: Memoir of the Life of Richard H. Lee, and His Correspondence with the Most Distinguished Men in America and Europe

“Militias, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves and include all men capable of bearing arms. [...] To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.”

“To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms.”

Source: Letters from the Federal farmer to the Republican

“The first maxim of a man who loves liberty, should be never to grant to rulers an atom of power that is not most clearly and indispensably necessary for the safety and well being of society.”

Men Should Firsts Wells Political Freedom Liberty Power Society Politician Safety Well Being Grants Atoms Rulers Indispensable Maxims

Book:Memoir of the Life of Richard H. Lee, and His Correspondence with the Most Distinguished Men in America and Europe

Source: Memoir of the Life of Richard H. Lee, and His Correspondence with the Most Distinguished Men in America and Europe

“Whereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it.”

“So far as this has gone, I am satisfied to see a spirit prevailing that promises to send the system out free from those vexations and abuses that might be warranted by the terms of the Constitution. It must never be forgotten, however, that the liberties of the people are not so safe under the gracious manner of government, as by the limitation of power.”

People Government Might Spirit Term Liberty Gone Promise Safe Abuse Constitution Forgotten Satisfied Limitation Gracious Prevailing Vexation

Book:Memoir of the Life of Richard H. Lee, and His Correspondence with the Most Distinguished Men in America and Europe

Source: Memoir of the Life of Richard H. Lee, and His Correspondence with the Most Distinguished Men in America and Europe