Patrick Henry Quotes

Give me liberty or give me death!

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!

The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.

The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American.

The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government.

If this be treason, make the most of it!

It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.

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 ruined.

We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature hath placed in our power.

The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.

There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations.

We are not disposed to differ much at present about religion. We are all of one opinion, that liberty is of the utmost importance.

While I remain an American, I shall never be ashamed to own that I still revere the author of these rights (George Mason) as the ardent and uniform advocate of liberty, and one of the greatest champions of mankind.

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?

Suspicion is a virtue as long as it is an instrument used for our protection, not a means of warfare.

I know not what others may choose, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.

Why stand we here idle?

The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.

It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds.

Is life so dear or peace so sweet to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?

Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace—but there is no peace.

There is no longer any room for hope.

It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope.

We shall not fight our battles alone.

We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power.

We have it in our power to be independent; we have only to form a design and execute it.

Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard!

We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated.

We have prostrated ourselves before the throne.

We have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and parliament.

We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated. We have prostrated ourselves before the throne.

If you wish to be more a slave, go home from us miserable and complete with the infamy of your powers.

The love of liberty. It is a design of Heaven and can never be forgotten by honorable men. If there be desperate designs entertained by any of our citizens, let us unite to crush the weeds with a hand that cannot be too strong.

Give me liberty or give me death!

United we stand, divided we fall.

Our cause is just and our fight is noble.

We fight not for power or riches, but for the freedom of our country.

Let it be told to the future generations that we did not go down without a fight.

We may suffer, we may bleed, but we will never surrender.

Tyranny thrives in darkness, but liberty is born in the light.

The flame of freedom burns bright in our hearts, and it will never be extinguished.

We are the guardians of liberty, and we will not let it be taken away.

May our actions speak louder than our words, and may they echo through the ages.

It is in the darkest hours that heroes are made.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement.

The battle for freedom is not won on the battlefield alone, but in the hearts and minds of the people.

The spirit of liberty is infectious, and it will spread like wildfire.