Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry was an American attorney, planter, and orator best known for his declaration to the Second Virginia Convention: "Give me liberty, or give me death!" A Founding Father, he served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia, from 1776 to 1779 and from 1784 to 1786.

Quotes

“Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.” ― Patrick Henry

“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

“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

“They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power.” ― Patrick Henry

“I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past.” ― Patrick Henry

“Are we at last brought to such a humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our own defense?” ― Patrick Henry

“The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.” ― Patrick Henry

“The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” ― Patrick Henry

“It is in 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 Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” ― Patrick Henry

“It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.” ― Patrick Henry

“Are we at last brought to such 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?” ― Patrick Henry

“When the American Spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different; Liberty, sir, was then the primary object.” ― Patrick Henry

“The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery” ― Patrick Henry

“It is the business of a virtuous clergy to censure vice in every appearance of it.” ― Patrick Henry

Articles that mention Patrick Henry

Audio2010 ...e Pilgrims and charity, The REAL forefathers, What sets man free?, Patrick Henry - the barefoot lawyer, "beast" nature of government, Strive to be like Chri

Audio2014 ...Covenants of the Gods. Mark of the Beast. Social Problems by Henry George. Employee - Clark's Summary of U.S. American Law ...g society. www.thelivingnetwork.org Anarchy. Larry Elliott - UK Guardian. Henry Ford.

Public schools ...the whole truth; to know the worst; and to provide for it.”

Live as if the state does not exist What you wrote on Strike the Root was great. Henry David Thoreau was not stupid : Patrick Sellman

Democracy

Are Christians Idiots ...know the whole truth -- to know the worst and to provide for it. "Patrick Henry

Fiction of law Edmond Pendleton, who debated Patrick in his opposition to the phrase “We the People”, stated, “Permit me t ...annot flourish without virtue in the people.”

Water ...eople want to hear, but that is what they need to hear. It is what Patrick Henry called the whole truth. The question is why does congress have that power a ...deprived of that right.”

Not my constitution ...d a ‘consolidated’ government, and the loss of states rights. Not only Henry but much abler men, such as Mason, Benjamin Harrison, Munroe, R.H. Lee, wer Patrick Henry was one of its most ardent opponents yet he served in an office under its a

Not a party The question asked by Patrick Henry on March 23, 1775 remains ours to answer, “Are we disposed to be of the n ...ment, “We the People” consisted of the names on that document. Patrick Henry, who opposed the Constitution, aptly asked “Who authorized them to speak

Deception have some safeguards but Patrick Henry argued against the

Types of citizen Patrick Henry in Virginia, and the contest in that most important states rights. Not only Henry but much abler men, such as Mason,