Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The art of being a slave is to rule one’s master.
—Diogenes Laertius (f.3rd Century CE) Biographer of the Greek Philosophers
Slavery is no more sinful, by the Christian code, than it is sinful to wear a whole coat, while another is in tatters, to eat a better meal than a neighbor, or otherwise to enjoy ease and plenty, while our fellow creatures are suffering and in want.
—James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851) American Novelist
Slavery is a system of the most complete injustice.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Captivity is the greatest of all evils that can befall one.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
We are like horses who hurt themselves as soon as they pull on their bits—and we bow our heads. We even lose consciousness of the situation, we just submit. Any re-awakening of thought is then painful.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
The blunting effects of slavery upon the slaveholder’s moral perceptions are known and conceded the world over; and a privileged class, an aristocracy, is but a band of slaveholders under another name.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Slavery is founded on the selfishness of man’s nature—opposition to it on his love of justice. These principles are in eternal antagonism; and when brought into collision so fiercely as slavery extension brings them, shocks and throes and convulsions must ceaselessly follow.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
I cannot be fired. Slaves have to be sold.
—Unknown
Men would rather be starving and free than fed in bonds.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Slavery is a weed that grows on every soil.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Some slaves are scoured to their work by whips, others by their restlessness and ambition.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Slavery takes hold of few, but many take hold of slavery.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
It does not matter what the whip is; it is none the less a whip, because you have cut thongs for it out of your own souls.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other. Our children see this, and learn to imitate it.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation. We say we are for the Union. The world will not forget that we say this. We know how to save the Union. The world knows we do know how to save it. Weeven we herehold the power, and bear the responsibility. In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free—honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best, hope of earth.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of slavery.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
The slave is doomed to worship time and fate and death, because they are greater than anything he finds in himself, and because all his thoughts are of things which they devour.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Whatever makes man a slave takes half his worth away.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Slavery is the first step towards civilization. In order to develop it is necessary that things should be much better for some and much worse for others, then those who are better off can develop at the expense of others.
—Alexander Herzen (1812–70) Russian Revolutionary, Writer
Slavery is so intolerable a condition that the slave can hardly escape deluding himself into thinking that he is choosing to obey his master’s commands when, in fact, he is obliged to. Most slaves of habit suffer from this delusion and so do some writers, enslaved by an all too “personal” style.
—W. H. Auden (1907–73) British-born American Poet, Dramatist
Have the daring to stop doing the things you really don’t want to do. Can you see them? Look closely. Can you observe the many things you do because you reluctantly feel you should or must? Watch closely. Examine every action and reaction. Do you act naturally or do you act because you feel compelled? If you feel compelled, stop. Compulsion is slavery. Example: Refuse to go along with the crowd.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Spiritual Teacher, Philosopher
I pity them greatly, but I must be mum, for how could we do without sugar and rum?
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Most people seek after what they do not possess and are enslaved by the very things they want to acquire.
—Anwar el-Sadat (1918–81) Egyptian Head of State, Political leader
The man who gives me employment, which I must have or suffer, that man is my master, let me call him what I will.
—Henry George (1839–97) American Political Economist, Journalist
The fundamental source of all your errors, sophisms, and false reasonings, is a total ignorance of the natural rights of mankind. Were you once to become acquainted with these, you could never entertain a thought, that all men are not, by nature, entitled to a parity of privileges. You would be convinced, that natural liberty is a gift of the beneficent Creator, to the whole human race; and that civil liberty is founded in that; and cannot be wrested from any people, without the most manifest violation of justice. Civil liberty is only natural liberty, modified and secured by the sanctions of civil society. It is not a thing, in its own nature, precarious and dependent on human will and caprice; but it is conformable to the constitution of man, as well as necessary to the well-being of society.
—Alexander Hamilton (c.1757–1804) American Federalist Politician, Statesman
Nobody had ever instructed him that a slave-ship, with a procession of expectant sharks in its wake, is a missionary institution, by which closely-packed heathen are brought over to enjoy the light of the Gospel.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–96) American Abolitionist, Author
Slavery is contrary to the fundamental law of all societies.
—Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist
The distinguishing sign of slavery is to have a price, and to be bought for it.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
The sovereign being is burdened with a servitude that crushes him, and the condition of free men is deliberate servility.
—Georges Bataille (1897–1962) French Essayist, Intellectual