The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
Man’s liberty ends, and it ought to end, when that liberty becomes the curse of his neighbors.
—Frederic William Farrar (1831–1903) English Clergyman, Writer
Liberty is the right to do what the laws allow; and if a citizen could do what they forbid, it would be no longer liberty, because others would have the same powers.
—Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist
Where there are too many policemen, there is no liberty. Where there are too many soldiers, there is no peace. Where there are too many lawyers, there is no justice.
—Lin Yutang (1895–1976) Chinese Author, Philologist
Liberty consists in the right which God has given us, of doing, getting, and enjoying all the good in our power, according to the laws of God, of the State, and of our conscience.—True liberty, therefore, can never interfere with the duties, rights, and interests of others.
—Charles Simmons (1924–2017) American Editor, Novelist
The way to secure liberty is to place it in the people’s hands, that is, to give them the power at all times to defend it in the legislature and in the courts of justice.
—John Adams (1735–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
He is the freeman whom the truth makes free, and all are slaves beside.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
It is not one man nor a million, but the spirit of liberty that must be preserved. The waves which dash upon the shore are, one by one, broken, but the ocean conquers nevertheless. It overwhelms the Armada, it wears out the rock. In like manner, whatever the struggle of individuals, the great cause will gather strength.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Liberty is to the collective body, what health is to every individual body. Without health no pleasure can be tasted by man; without liberty, no happiness can be enjoyed by society.
—Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke (1678–1751) English Politician, Philosopher
The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
I am truly free only when all human beings, men and women, are equally free. The freedom of other men, far from negating or limiting my freedom, is, on the contrary, its necessary premise and confirmation.
—Mikhail Bakunin (1814–76) Russian Anarchist Philosopher
Liberty is dangerous.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Easier were it to hurl the rooted mountain from its base, than force the yoke of slavery upon men determined to be free.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
In my youth I stressed freedom, and in my old age I stress order. I have made the great discovery that liberty is a product of order.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
A day, an hour, of virtuous liberty is worth a whole eternity in bondage.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
I like to walk about among the beautiful things that adorn the world; but private wealth I should decline, or any sort of personal possessions, because they would take away my liberty.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Peace is liberty in tranquillity.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
The contest, for ages, has been to rescue liberty from the grasp of executive power.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
I believe in only one thing: liberty; but I do not believe in liberty enough to want to force it upon anyone.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
There is nothing with which it is so dangerous to take liberties as liberty itself.
—Andre Breton (1896–1966) French Poet, Essayist, Critic
The basis of a democratic state is liberty.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Give me the liberty to know, to think to believe, and to utter freely, according to conscience, above all other liberties.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
He who 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.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
The Americans combine the notions of religion and liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive of one without the other
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
Liberty is obedience to the law which one has laid down for oneself.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
We have to talk about liberating minds as well as liberating society.
—Angela Davis (b.1944) American Political Activist, Academic
The history of liberty is the history of the limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it. When we resist the concentration of power we are resisting the powers of death. Concentration of power precedes the destruction of human liberties.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State