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The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.

— Patrick Henry

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Source, in full

Speech on the Federal Constitution, Virginia Ratifying Convention (Monday, 9 June 1788), as contained in The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: Volume 3, ed. Jonathan Elliot, published by the editor (1836), p. 170

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Freedom

More quotes by Patrick Henry

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past.

Speech in the Second Virginia Convention (1775)

The great object is that every man be armed… Everyone who is able may have a gun.

I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past.

Speech in the Second Virginia Convention (1775)

I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.

Speech in the Virginia Convention (1775)

A King, by disallowing Acts of this salutary nature, from being the father of his people, degenerated into a Tyrant and forfeits all rights to his subjects' obedience.

Speech on the Parson's Cause (1763)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Patrick Henry (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.