Freedom Quotes
Presidents are over-represented here. George W. Bush has the most entries, ahead of Thomas Jefferson and John F. Kennedy, which says more about how often presidents talk about freedom than about how well they put it. The better writing tends to be elsewhere: Madison in the Federalist Papers (1787), Hannah Arendt in The Human Condition (1958), Dalí in his diary.
Two of the most repeated freedom quotes are flagged. “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” is credited to Voltaire. Evelyn Beatrice Hall wrote it in The Friends of Voltaire (1906), as a summary of his views. “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance” is credited to Jefferson, but nobody has found it in his writings. The closest early version is by John Philpot Curran, in a speech of 1790.
Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.
Lucretius and his tradition taught Shelley that freedom came from understanding causation.
Philadelphia now has only two attractions left: the Liberty Bell and myself.
Each in the cell of himself is almost convinced of his freedom.
In limitations he first shows himself the master,
And the law can only bring us freedom.
Unlimited freedom, absolute democracy, are reefs upon which all the republics have come to grief.
Scientology is used to increase spiritual freedom, intelligence, ability and to produce immortality.
Liberty is not collective, it is personal. All liberty is individual liberty.