Patrick Henry quotes

The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them. (Patrick Henry)
This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed. View quote
Patrick Henry
When the American spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different: Liberty, Sir, was then the primary object. View quote
Patrick Henry
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! View quote
Patrick Henry
Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death! View quote
Patrick Henry
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. View quote
Patrick Henry
The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers and New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American. View quote
Patrick Henry
The Bible is worth all the other books which have ever been printed. View quote
Patrick Henry
For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and provide for it. View quote
Patrick Henry
Caesar had his Brutus; Charles the First, his Cromwelland George the Third (Treason, cried the Speaker) ... may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it. View quote
Patrick Henry
It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, peace! But there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! (Patrick Henry)
The great object is that every man be armed. View quote
Patrick Henry
Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined. View quote
Patrick Henry
We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power... the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. View quote
Patrick Henry
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past. View quote
Patrick Henry
Show me that age and country where the rights and liberties of the people were placed on the sole chance of their rulers being good men, without a consequent loss of liberty? View quote
Patrick Henry
Suspicion is a virtue as long as its object is the public good, and as long as it stays within proper bounds. ... Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. View quote
Patrick Henry
Are we at last brought to such an humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety or equal safety to us, as in our own hands? View quote
Patrick Henry
There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending-if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained-we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us! View quote
Patrick Henry
United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs. View quote
Patrick Henry
The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. (Patrick Henry)
Fear is the passion of slaves. View quote
Patrick Henry
Perfect freedom is as necessary to the health and vigor of commerce as it is to the health and vigor of citizenship. View quote
Patrick Henry
I know no way of judging the future but by the past. View quote
Patrick Henry
I am not a Virginian, but an American. View quote
Patrick Henry