Much reading is an oppression of the mind, and extinguishes the natural candle, which is the reason of so many read more

Much reading is an oppression of the mind, and extinguishes the natural candle, which is the reason of so many senseless scholars in the world.

No other offense has ever been visited with such severe penalties as seeking to help the oppressed.

No other offense has ever been visited with such severe penalties as seeking to help the oppressed.

He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this read more

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.

[Bigotry's] birthplace is the sinister back room of the mind where plots and schemes are hatched for the persecution and read more

[Bigotry's] birthplace is the sinister back room of the mind where plots and schemes are hatched for the persecution and oppression of other human beings.

First we kill all the subversives; then, their collaborators; later, those who sympathize with them; afterward, those who remain indifferent; read more

First we kill all the subversives; then, their collaborators; later, those who sympathize with them; afterward, those who remain indifferent; and finally, the undecided.

Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will read more

Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.

Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun read more

Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.

You can't hold a man down without staying down with him.

You can't hold a man down without staying down with him.

No oppression is so heavy or lasting as that which is inflicted by the perversion and exorbitance of legal authority.

No oppression is so heavy or lasting as that which is inflicted by the perversion and exorbitance of legal authority.