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.

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.

A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.

A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.

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.

Human beings are so made that the ones who do the crushing feel nothing; it is the person crushed who read more

Human beings are so made that the ones who do the crushing feel nothing; it is the person crushed who feels what is happening. Unless one has placed oneself on the side of the oppressed, to feel with them, one cannot understand.

The oppression of any people for opinion's sake has rarely had any other effect than to fix those opinions deeper read more

The oppression of any people for opinion's sake has rarely had any other effect than to fix those opinions deeper and render them more important.

[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.

Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.

Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.

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.