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Wendell Phillips

Wendell Phillips Quotes

Lawyer

Wendell Phillips was a distinguished American lawyer, abolitionist, and orator. Born on November 29, 1811, he was a leading figure in the abolitionist movement and a vocal opponent of slavery. Known for his eloquent speeches and advocacy for civil rights, Phillips passed away on February 2, 1884.

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Famous Wendell Phillips Quotes

“Let us always remember that he does not really believe his own opinion, who dares not give free scope to his opponent.”

Giving Believe Doe Remember Opinion Speech Dare Opponents Scope

Book:Speeches, Lectures, and Letters

Source: Speeches, Lectures, and Letters

“Popular opinion is oftenest, what Carlyle pronounced it to be, a lie!”

Lying Opinion Popularity Popular Opinion

Author:Wendell Phillips

“Society,--the only field where the sexes have ever met on terms of equality, the arena where character is formed and studied, the cradle and the realm of public opinion, the crucible of ideas, the world's university, at once a school and a theater, the spur and the crown of ambition, the tribunal which unmasks pretension and stamps real merit, the power that gives government leave to be, and outruns the lazy Church in fixing the moral sense of the eye.”

Source: Speeches, Lectures, and Letters

“Statutes are mere milestone, telling how far yesterday's thought had traveled; and the talk of the sidewalk today is the law of the land. With us, law in nothing unless close behind it stands a warm, living public opinion.”

Today Law Behinds Opinion Land Mere Warm Yesterday Traveled Public Opinion Sidewalk Milestone Statutes

Book:Speeches, Lectures, and Letters

Source: Speeches, Lectures, and Letters

“The community which does not protect its humblest and most hated member in the free utterance of his opinions, no matter how false or hateful, is only a gang of slaves. If there is anything in the universe that can't stand discussion, let it crack.”

Ifs Doe Matter Universe Community Liberty Opinion Protect Members Slave Hated Discussion Cracks Gang Hateful Utterance

Author:Wendell Phillips

“Law is nothing unless close behind it stands a warm, living public opinion.”

War Law Behinds Opinion Warm Public Opinion

Book:Speeches, Lectures, and Letters

Source: Speeches, Lectures, and Letters

“Truth is one forever absolute, but opinion is truth filtered through the moods, the blood, the disposition of the spectator.”

Truth Opinion Forever Blood Truth Is Absolutes Mood Disposition Spectators

Book:Fraternity Lecture of Wendell Phillips, Esq: Boston, Oct. 4, 1859. Also, Letter of Mr. Phillips to Judge Shaw and Prest. Walker

Source: Fraternity Lecture of Wendell Phillips, Esq: Boston, Oct. 4, 1859. Also, Letter of Mr. Phillips to Judge Shaw and Prest. Walker