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It is natural to man to indulge in the illusion of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, till she transforms us into beasts.

Patrick Henry

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Patrick Henry
Age: 63 †
Born: 1736
Born: May 29
Died: 1799
Died: June 6
Governor Of Virginia
Lawyer
Politician
Slaveholder
Hanover County
Virginia
Henry
Indulge
Hope
Natural
Beast
Truth
Shut
Men
Till
Painful
Illusion
Transforms
Eyes
Beasts
Eye

More quotes by Patrick Henry

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It is when a people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains.
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Have we the means of resisting disciplined armies, when our only defence, the militia, is put in the hands of Congress?
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The whole economy of this lower world proves that it is by labor and perseverance only that good is obtained and evil is avoided.
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I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.
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Were my soul trembling on the wing of eternity, were this hand freezing to death, were my voice choking with the last struggle, I would still, with the last gasp of that voice, implore you to remember the truth: God has given America to be free.
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It is the business of a virtuous clergyman to censure vice in every appearance of it.
Patrick Henry
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For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth to know the worst and provide for it.
Patrick Henry
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When the American spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different: Liberty, sir, was the primary object.
Patrick Henry
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Give me liberty or give me death.
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The King has degenerated into a tyrant and forfeits all rights to his subjects' obedience.
Patrick Henry
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The Bible is worth all the other books which have ever been printed.
Patrick Henry
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Show me that age and country where the rights and liberties of the people were placed on the sole chance of their rulers being good men, without a consequent loss of liberty?
Patrick Henry
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I believe a time will come when an opportunity will be offered to abolish this lamentable evil. Everything we do is to improve it, if it happens in our day if not, let us transmit to our descendants, together with our slaves, a pity for their unhappy lot and an abhorrence of slavery.
Patrick Henry
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We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power... the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.
Patrick Henry
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There is a Book worth all other books which were ever printed.
Patrick Henry
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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?
Patrick Henry
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[Our Constitution] is an instrument for the people to restrain the government.
Patrick Henry
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I shall act as I think my duty requires.
Patrick Henry
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....I am sure that the dangers of this system (the Federal Constitution) are real, when those who have no similar interest with the people of this country (the South) are to legislate for us - when our dearest rights are to be left, in the hands of those, whose advantage it will be to infringe them.
Patrick Henry
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Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace! – but there is no peace.
Patrick Henry