But what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is
the greatest of all possible evils; for it read more

But what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is
the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and
madness, without tuition or restraint.

It is a fair summary of history to say that the safeguards of liberty have frequently been forged in cases read more

It is a fair summary of history to say that the safeguards of liberty have frequently been forged in cases involving not very nice people.

Liberty can not be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.

Liberty can not be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.

As so often before, liberty has been wounded in the house of its
friends. Liberty in the wild and read more

As so often before, liberty has been wounded in the house of its
friends. Liberty in the wild and freakish hands of fanatics has
once more, as frequently in the past, proved the effective
helpmate of autocracy and the twin-brother of tyranny.

Yes, while I stood and gazed, my temples bare,
And shot my being through earth, sea, and air,
read more

Yes, while I stood and gazed, my temples bare,
And shot my being through earth, sea, and air,
Possessing all things with intensest love,
O liberty! my spirit felt thee there.

Give me liberty, or give me death.

Give me liberty, or give me death.

"The liberties of our country, the freedoms of our civil Constitution are worth defending at all hazards; it is our read more

"The liberties of our country, the freedoms of our civil Constitution are worth defending at all hazards; it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors. They purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood. It will bring a mark of everlasting infamy on the present generation – enlightened as it is – if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of designing men." -Samuel Adams

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

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

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

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