Independence Day Quotes
Despite the name, this is not a page about the American Fourth of July. It is built from the freedom and patriotism pages, and the writers who turn up come from all over: the Puerto Rican poet Julia de Burgos, the Italian anarchist Bruno Filippi, Shakespeare, Anna Quindlen. De Burgos has a line about an invaded nation where today’s battlefield is independence.
A few entries are there because of a keyword, not a mood. Cervantes’s remark about not thrusting his nose into other men’s porridge (Don Quixote, 1605) is about minding your own business. If you want something for a speech, sort by source grade and skip the oddities.
Most quoted on independence day:
We are hearing a speech of hatred. You cannot use your freedom of speech to hurt others.
Writing is absolutely the work of freedom. Not just freedom dreaming but being free.
There are two kinds of defeat. Whether in chains or in laurels, Liberty knows nothing but victories.
To whom thy secret thou dost tell, to him thy freedom thou dost sell.
Anarchism — a life of freedom and creative independence for humanity.
Anarchism is the most democratic, effective, and radical way to obtain our freedom.
True Patriotism, it seems to me, is based on tolerance and a large measure of humility.
No government as such is ever in favor of the freedom of the individual.