Freedom Quotes
Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
—Margaret Mead
Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.
—Thomas Jefferson
If… the machine of government… is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.
—Henry David Thoreau
Human history begins with man’s act of disobedience which is at the very same time the beginning of his freedom and development of his reason.
—Erich Fromm
We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was “legal” and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was “illegal”.
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.
—Bishop Desmond Tutu
We may be surprised at the people we find in heaven. God has a soft spot for sinners. His standards are quite low.
—Desmond Tutu
When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said “Let us pray.” We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.
—Desmond Tutu
There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.
—Elie Wiesel
You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.
—Abraham Lincoln
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
—Plato
I just want to do God’s will. And he’s allowed me to go to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be… The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists.
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.
—Thomas Jefferson
The people made the constitution and they can unmake it. It is the Creature of their will and lives only by their will.
—John Marshall
If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.
—John Stuart Mill
I will be satisfied if my epitaph shall be written thus: ‘Here lies one who never rose to any eminence, who only courted the low ambition to have it said that he striven to ameliorate the condition of the poor, the lowly, the downtrodden of every race and language and color.
—Thaddeus Stevens
Demokrasi bisa tertindas sementara karena kesalahannya sendiri. Tapi setelah ia mengalami cobaan yang pahit, ia akan muncul kembali dengan keinsafan.
—Hatta
Selama dunia tempat kita hidup dikuasai oleh modal, kita harus memastikan bahwa kita tidak memiliki kebencian yang dalam pada kapitalisme.
—Sjahrir
In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?
—Saint Augustine
