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Oppression Quotes

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Oppression Quotes

“We should have learnt by now that laws and court decisions can only point the way. They can establish criteria of right and wrong. And they can provide a basis for rooting out the evils of bigotry and racism. But they cannot wipe away centuries of oppression and injustice - however much we might desire it.”

WayShouldMightLawDesireEvilDecisionCenturyRacismShould HaveEarsBasesCourtInjusticeOppressionBigotryCriteriaWipeCourt Decision
Author:Hubert H. Humphrey
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“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of the day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period, and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers (adminstrators) too plainly proves a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing us to slavery.”

MayGovernmentPoliticsLibertyOpinionPlansPeriodsProveSlaverySeriesLibertarianTyrannyOppressionMinistersDeliberateDistinguishedPursuedReducingSystematicGovernment Tyranny
Author:Thomas Jefferson
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“No client ever had money enough to bribe my conscience or to stop its utterance against wrong, and oppression. My conscience is my own - my creators - not man's. I shall never sink the rights of mankind to the malice, wrong, or avarice of another's wishes, though those wishes come to me in the relation of client and attorney.”

MenEnoughLawWishMy OwnRightsMankindConscienceRelationCreatorLawyerOppressionClientsMaliceAttorneyAvariceUtteranceBribe
Book:The Lincoln treasury
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“The inconsistency of the institution of domestic slavery with the principles of the Declaration of Independence was seen and lamented . . . no insincerity or hypocrisy can be fairly laid to their charge. Never from their lips was heard one syllable of attempt to justify the institution of slavery. They universally considered it as a reproach fastened upon them by the unnatural step-mother country and they saw that before the principles of the Declaration of Independence slavery, in common with every other mode of oppression, was destined sooner or later to be banished from the earth.”

CountryEarthMotherCommonStepsPrinciplesSawsHeardIndependenceInstitutionsSlaveryLipsOppressionHypocrisyJustifySooner Or LaterDeclarationDestinedUnnaturalDeclaration Of IndependenceReproachSyllablesInconsistencyInsincerityMother CountryStep Mother
Author:John Quincy Adams
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“When indeed Religion is kindled into enthusiasm, its force like that of other passions is increased by the sympathy of a multitude. But enthusiasm is only a temporary state of Religion, and whilst it lasts will hardly be seen with pleasure at the helm. Even in its coolest state, it has been much oftener a motive to oppression than a restraint from it.”

Has BeensStatesLastsReligionPassionForcePleasureAtheismOppressionEnthusiasmMotiveTemporaryMultitudesRestraintHelm
Book:Selected Writings of James Madison
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“The state machine, including the army, the police and the courts, is the instrument with which one class oppresses another. It is an instrument of oppression against all hostile classes; it means violence and is certainly not anything 'benevolent.' 'You are merciless.' Quite so. We definitely do not adopt a benevolent policy towards the reactionary activities of the reactionaries and the reactionary classes.”

MeanStatesClassViolencePolicyCommunicationActivityMachinesArmyPoliceInstrumentsCourtIncludingOppressionHostileBenevolentReactionaries
Author:Mao Zedong
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“Mr. President, passage of this bill will visit the heel of oppression on all the people, vitiate their constitutional shield against tyranny, and materially hasten the destruction of the best design for self-government yet devised by the minds of men. Its passage will mark one of the darkest days in history”

PeopleMenMindSelfGovernmentPresidentDesignDestructionMarkBillsTyrannyCivil RightsOppressionPassagesHeelsShieldsSelf-governmentBest Design
Author:Strom Thurmond
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“Most codes extend their definitions of treason to acts not really against one's country. They do not distinguish between acts against the government, and acts against the oppressions of the government. The latter are virtues, yet have furnished more victims to the executioner than the former. Real treasons are rare; oppressions frequent. The unsuccessful strugglers against tyranny have been the chief martyrs of treason laws in all countries.”

Has BeensRealCountryGovernmentLawPoliticsVirtueVictimDefinitionsTyrannyCivil RightsOppressionChiefsFormerCodeLatterMartyrTreasonUnsuccessfulExecutioners
Book:Correspondence
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“A single good government becomes... a blessing to the whole earth, its welcome to the oppressed restraining within certain limits the measure of their oppressions. But should even this be counteracted by violence on the right of expatriation, the other branch of our example then presents itself for imitation: to rise on their rulers and do as we have done.”

ShouldDoneWholeGovernmentEarthCertainViolenceExampleBlessingLimitsCivil RightsWelcomeOppressionBranchesRulersImitationOppressedRestraining
Book:The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series, Volume 12: 1 September 1817 to 21 April 1818
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“The God of the Bible is the God of liberation rather than oppression; a God of justice rather than injustice; a God of freedom and humanity rather than enslavement and subservience; a God of love, righteousness and community rather than hatred, self-interest and exploitation.”

SelfSpiritualHumanityInterestCommunityJusticeHatredInjusticeOppressionLiberationRighteousnessExploitationSelf InterestEnslavementSubservience
Book:Black theology, black power
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“Where today are the Pequot? Where are the Narragansett, the Mohican, the Pokanoket, and many other once powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished before the avarice and the oppression of the White Man, as snow before a summer sun. Will we let ourselves be destroyed in our turn without a struggle, give up our homes, our country bequeathed to us by the Great Spirit, the graves of our dead and everything that is dear and sacred to us? I know you will cry with me, 'Never! Never!'”

PeopleKnowsMenGivingCountryHomeTodaySpiritTurnsWhitePowerfulStruggleSunCryGiving UpSummerSacredDearGravesSnowOppressionDestroyedOur CountryNativeNative AmericanTribesWhite ManAvariceAmerican IndianGreat SpiritNative AmericaNative American IndianGreat Native AmericanNative American EarthSummer SunNative CountryIndian Tribes
Author:Tecumseh
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“You are Christians; find out what is true and false in Christianity - and you will then find out what is true. Find out what is true and false in your environment with all its oppressions and cruelties, and then you will find out what is true. Why do you want philosophies?”

WantLoveLifePhilosophyTruthChristianChristianityEnvironmentCrueltyOppressionTruth Of LifeOur EnvironmentTruth LoveTrue And False
Book:The Collected Works of J. Krishnamurti 1934-1935: What Is Right Action
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“I am in love with this world . . . I have climbed its mountains, roamed its forests, sailed its waters, crossed its deserts, felt the sting of its frosts, the oppression of its heats, the drench of its rains, the fury of its winds, and always have beauty and joy waited upon my goings and comings.”

WorldLifeJoyFeltWaterNatureThis WorldWindMountainRainForestsOppressionDesertHeatFuryFrostNature LifeNature And Life
Book:Summit of the years
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“Difference is that raw and powerful connection from which our personal power is forged... We have been taught to either ignore our differences or to view them as causes for separation and suspicion rather than as forces for change. Without community, there is no liberation, only the most vulnerable and temporary armistice between an individual and her oppression... Survival is learning to take our difference and make them strengths.”

Has BeensValuesIndividualForceCausesCommunityDifferencesViewsPowerfulMoralTaughtSurvivalEthicsConnectionsSeparationOppressionVulnerableLiberationTemporarySuspicionPersonal PowerForgedArmistice
Author:Audre Lorde
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“The provision of the Constitution giving the war making power to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons: Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This our convention understood to be the most oppressive of all kingly oppressions, and they resolved to so frame the constitution that no man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us.”

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Book:An autobiography of Abraham Lincoln: consisting of the personal portions of his letters, speeches and conversations
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“The end of all political associations is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man; and these rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance of oppression.”

MenEndsGovernmentPoliticalPoliticsNaturalLibertyRightsSecurityPropertyResistanceOppressionAssociationPreservation
Book:The Political Writings of Thomas Paine ...: Prospects on the Rubicon. Rights of man, part I. Rights of man, part II. Letter to the authors of the Republican. Letter to the Abbe Sieyes. Address to the addressers. Letters to Lord Onslow. Dissertation on the first principles of government. Speech delivered in the French National convention. Letter to Mr. Secretary Dundas. The decline and fall of the English system of finance. Letter to the people of France. Reasons for preserving the life of Louis
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“The world has got more democracies than ever, and human rights are high on almost every country's agenda. Still, corruption and oppression are far too common threats to the democratic society. And we have seen a dramatic increase, the last 10-15 years, of ethnical conflicts and humanitarian crises with human rights violations as important elements., but also more of corruption. Human rights are praised more than ever - and violated as much as ever.”

WorldYearsHumansStillsImportantCountryLastsCommonDemocracyRightsConflictElementsIncreaseCrisisThreatDemocraticHuman RightsCorruptionHumanitarianOppressionDramaticAgendasViolationDemocratic Society
Author:Anna Lindh
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“The socialism of centralised state control of industry and production, is dead. It misunderstood the nature and development of a modern market economy. It failed to recognise that the state and public sector can become a vested interest capable of oppression as much as the vested interests of wealth and capital. it was based on a false view of class that became too rigid to explain or illuminate the nature of class division today.”

StatesTodayInterestWealthViewsClassEconomyModernDevelopmentIndustryCapableEconomicsProductionsSocialismOppressionDivisionMisunderstoodRecogniseMarket EconomyVested InterestsPublic Sector
Book:Tony Blair in His Own Words
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“The cost in human lives and suffering is so high that we all have to work to end violence and oppression once and for all. We have to proclaim that every human being is equal, in dignity, in freedom -and, as the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, we have to live in a spirit of brotherhood.”

FirstsHumansEndsStatesSpiritSufferingHuman BeingsRightsViolenceCostEqualDignityUniversalHuman RightsOppressionHuman LifeTortureArticlesBrotherhoodDeclarationDeclaration Of Human Rights
Author:Federico Mayor Zaragoza
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“All it has experienced, tasted, suffered: The course of years, generations of animals, Oppression, recovery, friendship of sun and - Wind Will pour forth each day in the song Of its rustling foliage, in the friendly Gesture of its gently swaying crown, In the delicate sweet scent of resinous Sap moistening the sleep-glued buds, And the eternal game of lights and Shadows it plays with itself, content.”

YearsPlayLightSongCoursesGamesSleepAnimalSunGenerationsTreeSweetWindEternalShadowEternityRecoveryOppressionEach DayFriendlyDelicateGesturesCrownsScentBudSapLight And ShadowFoliageSwaying
Author:Hermann Hesse
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“Freedom is one of the deepest and noblest aspirations of the human spirit. People, worldwide, hunger for the right of self-determination, for those inalienable rights that make for human dignity and progress. America must remain freedom's staunchest friend, for freedom is our best ally and it is the world's only hope to conquer poverty and preserve peace. Every blow we inflict against poverty will be a blow against its dark allies of oppression and war. Every victory for human freedom will be a victory for world peace.”

PeopleWorldHumansWarSelfAmericaSpiritDarkPovertyRightsProgressVictoryDeterminationDignityHungerBlowOppressionConquerPreservesAspirationAlliesSelf DeterminationHuman SpiritHuman DignityHuman FreedomInalienable Rights
Author:Ronald Reagan
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“The smaller the society, the fewer probably will be the distinct parties and interests composing it; the fewer the distinct parties and interests, the more frequently will a majority be found of the same party; . . . the more easily will they concert and execute their plans of oppression.”

FoundInterestPartyPlansMajorityTyrannyOppressionConcertsFewerComposingFederalist Papers
Book:The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788
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“[T]he man who, in the concrete pressure of a struggle for national independence by a single people, had the coolness, forecast, and capacity to introduce into a merely revolutionary document, an abstract truth, applicable to all men and all times, and so to embalm it there, that to-day, and in all coming days, it shall be a rebuke and a stumbling-block to the very harbingers of reappearing tyranny and oppression.”

PeopleMenStruggleHe ManCapacityPressureIndependenceTyrannyBlockOppressionAll TimeRevolutionaryAbstractConcreteIntroducingDocumentsStumblingForecastsRebukeCoolnessStumbling BlocksHarbingerSingle People
Author:Abraham Lincoln
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“If duties are too high, they lessen the consumption; the collection is eluded; and the product to the treasury is not so great as when they are confined within proper and moderate bounds. This forms a complete barrier against any material oppression of the citizens by taxes of this class, and is itself a natural limitation of the power of imposing them.”

IfsFormNaturalClassMaterialsDutyProductsCitizensTaxesBoundsOppressionLimitationCollectionsBarriersConsumptionTaxationModeratesConfinedImposingTreasury
Book:The Federalist
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“The ordaining of laws in favor of one part of the nation, to the prejudice and oppression of another, is certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy. An equal dispensation of protection, rights, privileges, and advantages, is what every part is entitled to, and ought to enjoy.”

LawNationsEnjoyRightsPolicyOughtEqualAdvantagePrejudicePrivilegeProtectionFavorsOppressionEntitledMistakenRights And Privileges
Book:The Works of Benjamin Franklin: Containing Several Political and Historical Tracts Not Included in Any Former Edition, and Many Letters, Official and Private Not Hitherto Published
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