"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 can not be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!"
— Patrick Henry

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

"If this be treason, make the most of it!"
— 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

"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

"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

"The Bible is worth all the other books which have ever been printed."
— Patrick Henry

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
— Patrick Henry

"The eternal difference between right and wrong does not fluctuate, it is immutable."
— 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 to provide for it."
— Patrick Henry

"The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun."
— Patrick Henry

"For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole turuth; to know the worst, and to provide for it."
— 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

"It is the business of a virtuous clergy to censure vice in every appearance of it."
— 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

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who comes near that precious jewel. Unfortunately, nothing
will preserve it but downright force. When you give up that force, you are ruined.



"
— Patrick Henry

"Give me liberty or give me death."
— 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

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

"Liberty, the greatest of all earthly blessings - give us that precious jewel and you may take everything else!"
— Patrick Henry

"Gentlemen may cry peace, peace- but there is no peace! 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 should we idle here?...I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
— Patrick Henry

"I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death."
— Patrick Henry

"The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I Am Not A Virginian, But An American!"
— 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

"The battle, Sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, Sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable; and let it come! I repeat, Sir, let it come!"
— 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 has placed in our power."
— Patrick Henry

"Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Beside, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of Nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us."
— Patrick Henry

"Give me liberty, or give me death!"
— Patrick Henry

"I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past."
— Patrick Henry