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Liberty Quotes

Browse 6578 quotes about Liberty.

Liberty Quotes

“Liberty is so great a magician, endowed with so marvelous a power of productivity, that under the inspiration of this spirit alone, North America was able within less than a century to equal, and even surpass, the civilization of Europe.”

Inspiration Able America Spirit Liberty Century Civilization Equal Europe Productivity Marvelous Magician North America

Author:Mikhail Bakunin

“It was a real revolution. But with one missing feature. That is the feeling in a people that "We have done it once, and if the new lot let us down, we can do it again!" It was that proud, menacing confidence which made the French revolution special. But it's not around in 21st-century Europe. After 1989, the people handed over liberty to the experts. Will they ever want it back?”

People Ifs Want Made Real Done Feelings Can Do Liberty Special Century Missing Revolution Proud Europe Features Experts 21st Century French Revolution

Author:Neal Ascherson

“'Tis Liberty that crowns Britannia's isle, and makes her barren rocks and her bleak mountains smile... 'Tis Britain's care to watch o'er Europe's fate, and hold in balance each contending state, To threaten bold presumptuous kings with war, and answer her afflicted neighbours' prayer... Soon as her fleets appear their terrors cease.”

War States Care Prayer Answers Liberty Watches Fate Rocks Kings Balance Mountain Europe Terror Cease Britain Crowns Neighbour Barren Bleak Isle Presumptuous Contending

Author:Joseph Addison

“it is impossible for any mind of common honesty not to be revolted by the contradictions in their principles and practice. They inveigh against the governments of Europe, because, as they say, they favor the powerful and oppress the weak. ... [yet] you will see them with one hand hoisting the cap of liberty, and with the other flogging their slaves. You will see them one hour lecturing their mob on the indefeasible rights of man, and the next driving from their homes the children of the soil, whom they have bound themselves to protect by the most solemn treaties.”

“I have been lately introduced to the famous Thomas Paine, and like him very well. He is vain beyond all belief, but he has reason to be vain, and for my part I forgive him. He has done wonders for the cause of liberty, both in America and Europe, and I believe him to be conscientiously an honest man. He converses extremely well; and I find him wittier in discourse than in his writings, where his humour is clumsy enough.”

Source: The Autobiography of Theobald Wolfe Tone. 1763-1798; Ed. with an Introduction by R. Barry O'Brien

“This regard for the liberties of Europe, this care at one time for the protestant interest, this excessive love for the balance of power, is neither more nor less than a gigantic system of outdoor relief for the aristocracy of Great Britain.”

Care Interest Liberty Balance Europe Regard Britain Relief One Time Protestants Aristocracy Great Britain Balance Of Power Excessive Love

Author:John Bright

“A democratic Europe of nation states could be a force for liberty, enterprise and open trade. But, if creating a United States of Europe overrides these goals, the new Europe will be one of subsidy and protection”

Ifs States Force Nations Goal United Liberty United States Creating Europe Trade Democratic Protection Enterprise Subsidies

Book:As I said to Denis--: the Margaret Thatcher book of quotations

Source: As I said to Denis--: the Margaret Thatcher book of quotations

“We believe in a free Europe, not a standardised Europe. Diminish that variety within the member states, and you impoverish the whole Community. We insist that the institutions of the European Community are managed so that they increase the liberty of the individual throughout the continent. These institutions must not be permitted to dwindle into bureaucracy. Whenever they fail to enlarge freedom the institutions should be criticised and the balance restored.”

Should Believe States Whole Individual Community Liberty Failing Balance Members Europe Increase Institutions Variety Continents Bureaucracy Diminish

Book:As I said to Denis--: the Margaret Thatcher book of quotations

Source: As I said to Denis--: the Margaret Thatcher book of quotations

“Our first duty to liberty is to keep our own. But it is also our duty - as Europeans - to keep alive in the Eastern as well as the Western half of our continent those ideas of human dignity which Europe gave to the world. Let us therefore resolve to keep the lamps of freedom burning bright so that all who look to the West from the shadows of the East need not doubt that we remain true to those human and spiritual values that lie at the heart of European civilization.”

Source: In defence of freedom: speeches on Britain's relations with the world 1976-1986

“Over the years, Britain has made her own, unique contribution to Europe. We have provided a haven to those fleeing tyranny and persecution. And in Europe's darkest hour, we helped keep the flame of liberty alight. Across the continent, in silent cemeteries, lie the hundreds of thousands of British servicemen who gave their lives for Europe's freedom.”

Years Made Lying Hours Liberty Havens Unique Europe Silent British Tyranny Flames Contribution Britain Continents Persecution Cemetery Fleeing Darkest Hour Servicemen

Author:David Cameron

“I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an independent judiciary, and fighting corruption, those are principles that, you know, not perfectly but generally, we have tried to apply not just in our own country but also with respect to our foreign policy.”