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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
Hope
Indulge
Natural
Beast
Truth
Shut
Men
Till
Painful
Illusion
Eyes
Transforms
Eye
Beasts

More quotes by Patrick Henry

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Suspicion is a virtue as long as its object is the public good, and as long as it stays within proper bounds. Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel.
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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?
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Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell and George the Third — ['Treason!' cried the Speaker] — may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it.
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The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.
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It is the business of a virtuous clergyman to censure vice in every appearance of it.
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It is when a people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains.
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The King has degenerated into a tyrant and forfeits all rights to his subjects' obedience.
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Righteousness alone can exalt them [America] as a nation. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this, and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself and encourage it in others.
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Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace! – but there is no peace.
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Fear is the passion of slaves.
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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?
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What right do they have to say we the people rather than we the States?
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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.
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He that hath a blind conscience which sees nothing, a dead conscience which feels nothing, and a dumb conscience which says nothing, is in as miserable a condition as a man can be on this side of hell.
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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.
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We have not yet begun to fight.
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When the American spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different: Liberty, sir, was the primary object.
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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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Jealousy is the only vice that gives no pleasure
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I shall act as I think my duty requires.
Patrick Henry