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Slavery Quotes

Browse 2495 quotes about Slavery.

Slavery Quotes

“It ought to concern every person, because it is a debasement of our common humanity. It ought to concern every community, because it tears at our social fabric. It ought to concern every business, because it distorts markets. It ought to concern every nation, because it endangers public health and fuels violence and organized crime. I’m talking about the injustice, the outrage, of human trafficking, which must be called by its true name - modern slavery.”

“Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised; divided--the yoke has been forced upon them. But what is the lesson...? The people ought to be enlightened, to be awakened, to be united, that after establishing a government they should watch over it.... It is universally admitted that a well-instructed people alone can be permanently free.”

People Men Should Humans Wells Has Beens Government Born United Race Watches Ought Lessons Slavery Ignorant Human Race Enlightened Over It Divided Awakened Cheated Yoke Born Free

Author:James Madison

“I'm offended by the is-ought fallacy, which has been used to justify slavery, women not being allowed to vote, children working in factories.”

Children Has Beens Used Ought Vote Slavery Justify Factories Offended Fallacy

Author:Moby

“Every measure of prudence, therefore, ought to be assumed for the eventual total extirpation of slavery from the United States ... I have, throughout my whole life, held the practice of slavery in ... abhorrence.”

States Whole United Practice United States Ought Slavery Whole Life Prudence Abhorrence

Book:John Adams, the writer: a treasury of letters, diaries, and public documents

Source: John Adams, the writer: a treasury of letters, diaries, and public documents

“No people ever yet groaned under the heavy yoke of slavery, but when they deserv'd it. ...The truth is, all might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they ought. ...If therefore a people will not be free; if they have not virtue enough to maintain their liberty against a presumptuous invader, they deserve no pity, and are to be treated with contempt and ignominy.”

People Ifs Enough Might Liberty Virtue Ought Truth Is Deserve Slavery Heavy Treated Pity Contempt Yoke Invaders Presumptuous Ignominy

Author:Samuel Adams

“All these cries of having "abolished slavery," of having "saved the country," of having "preserved the union," of establishing a "government of consent," and of "maintaining the national honor," are all gross, shameless, transparent cheats - so transparent that they ought to deceive no one.”

Country Government Cry Ought Honor Slavery Unions Saved Deceiving Cheat Consent Gross Maintaining Transparent Shameless

Book:Let's Abolish Government

Source: Let's Abolish Government

“"First female president." That's it, and that's nowhere near, by the way, as powerful or penetrating as the first African-American president. I mean, women, yeah, I mean, make the case that they've been victimized. But they can't put themselves in the same shoes as slavery's legacy for example. Now, women might try to make the case. Hillary [Clinton] might try to make the case about not being ought to be able to vote, but it ain't gonna fly.”

Way Trying Firsts Mean Might Able President Powerful Cases Example Ought Female Vote Yeah Slavery Clinton Shoes African American Legacy American President Female President

Author:Rush Limbaugh

“You think slavery is right and ought to be extended; while we think it is wrong and ought to be restricted. That I suppose is the rub. It certainly is the only substantial difference between us.”

Thinking Differences Ought Slavery Civil War Slavery In America

Book:The collected works of Abraham Lincoln

Source: The collected works of Abraham Lincoln

“One section of our country believes slavery is right, and ought to be extended, while the other believes it is wrong, and ought not to be extended.”

Believe Country Ought Slavery Our Country Civil War Sections American Civil War Inaugural Address Slavery In America Us Civil War

Book:Lincoln: Political Writings and Speeches

Source: Lincoln: Political Writings and Speeches

“Banking was conceived in iniquity and born in sin... Bankers own the Earth. Take it away from them but leave them the power to create money, and, with the flick of a pen, they will create enough money to buy it back again... Take this great power away from them and all the great fortunes like mine will disappear and they ought to disappear, for then this would be a better and happier world to live in... But, if you want to continue to be a slave of the bankers and pay the cost of your own slavery, then let the bankers continue to create money and control credit.”

“No trace of slavery ought to mix with the studies of the freeborn man. No study, pursued under compulsion, remains rooted in the memory.”

Men Memories Study Ought Slavery Remains Rooted Plato Compulsion Pursued Good Memories

Book:The Republic of Plato, tr. with an analysis and notes, by J.L. Davies and D.J. Vaughan

Source: The Republic of Plato, tr. with an analysis and notes, by J.L. Davies and D.J. Vaughan

“The American states have gone far in assisting the progress of truth; but they have stopped short of perfection. They ought to have given every honest citizen an equal right to enjoy his religion and an equal title to all civil emoluments, without obliging him to tell his religion. Every interference of the civil power in regulating opinion, is an impious attempt to take the business of the Deity out of his own hands; and every preference given to any religious denomination, is so far slavery and bigotry.”

Source: Sketches of American Policy Under the Following Heads: I. Theory of Government, II. Governments on the Eastern Continent, III. American States, Or, the Principles of the American Constitutions Contrasted with Those of European States, IV. Plan of Policy for Improving the Advantages and Perpetuating the Union of the American States