Liberty Quotes

“Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.”

“There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.”

“The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself.”

“Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct. Even the ardent love of liberty will, after a time, give way to its dictates.”

“The vigour of government is essential to the security of liberty.”

“Liberty can have nothing to fear from the judiciary alone.”

“Nothing is more common than for a free people, in times of heat and violence, to gratify momentary passions, by letting into the government principles and precedents which afterwards prove fatal to themselves.”

“Truth is mysterious, elusive, always to be conquered. Liberty is dangerous, as hard to live with as it is elating.”

"God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it."

Daniel Webster

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty."

"The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time."

Thomas Jefferson

"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

Thomas Jefferson

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."

Wendell Phillips

"Bail is the rule, jail is the exception."

V. R. Krishna Iyer

"The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others."

John Stuart Mill

"In America the law is king."

"Magna Carta is such a fellow, that he will have no sovereign."

Edward Coke

"The history of liberty has largely been the history of observance of procedural safeguards."

Felix Frankfurter

"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficent."

Louis D. Brandeis

"Our nation is founded on the principle that observance of the law is the eternal safeguard of liberty and defiance of the law is the surest road to tyranny."

"The power of the Executive to cast a man into prison without formulating any charge known to the law... is in the highest degree odious."

"Every law is an infraction of liberty."

Jeremy Bentham

"Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign."

John Stuart Mill

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."