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Slavery Quotes

Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and James Madison have the most entries. The page is not one-sided: George Fitzhugh, a proslavery writer, is fourth, so the arguments made at the time are on the record next to the condemnations. The sourced lines worth reading in full are Madison’s letters, to Lafayette in 1821, calling slavery a sad blot on our free country, and to F. Corbin in 1820. Goethe’s Elective Affinities (1809) is here for the opposite sort of remark: none are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.

Three lines are flagged. One credited to Edward R. Murrow, “We used to own our slaves; now we just rent them,” is marked misattributed. A line about freeing thousands more if they had known they were slaves, credited to Harriet Tubman, and a passage addressed “To Americans” credited to Thomas Paine are disputed.

Random quote on Slavery

Most quoted on slavery:

The Law of the Funnel, the agreement that Puerto Ricans accept that political slavery of the United States, that's the agreement

Pedro Albizu Campos Everybody is Quiet but the Nationalist Party (1950)

Slavery was not only an economic loss for Africa, but it was also a huge cultural loss

Angelique Kidjo

There was the slavery that is suggested throughout these narratives. It comes from one of our previous presidents

Wayétu Moore

[Footnote] He [Alexander] was often extremely brutal to his captives, whom he sold into slavery, tortured to death, or forced to learn Greek.

Will Cuppy The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody (1950)

We used to own our slaves; now we just rent them.

Edward R. Murrow Misattributed

To Americans. That some desperate wretches should be willing to steal and enslave men by violence and murder for gain, is rather lamentable than strange. But that many civilized, nay, christianized people should approve, and be concerned in the savage practice, is surprising; and still persist, though it has been so often proved contrary to the light of nature, to every principle of Justice and Humanity, and even good policy, by a succession of eminent men, and several late publications.

Thomas Paine Disputed African Slavery in America (1775)

Every man of the commonalty (excepting infants, insane persons, and criminals) is, of common right, and by the laws of God, a freeman, and entitled to the free enjoyment of liberty. ...liberty or freedom consists in having an actual share in the appointment of those who are to frame the laws and who are to be the guardians of every man's life, property, and peace. For the all of one man is as dear to him as the all of another; and the poor man has an equal right, but more need to have representatives in the Legislature than the rich one. ...they who have no voice or vote in the electing of representatives, do not enjoy liberty, but are absolutely enslaved to those who have votes and their representatives; for to be enslaved is to have governors whom other men have set over us, and to be subject to laws made by the representatives of others, without having had representatives of our own to give consent in our behalf.

Benjamin Franklin Attributed

If it wasn't about slavery, then I don't know what else it was about.

James Longstreet Attributed

I freed thousands of slaves. I could have freed thousands more, if they had known they were slaves.

Harriet Tubman Disputed

My mission is to lead the country out of a bad situation of corruption, depression and slavery. After I rid the country of these vices, I will then organize and supervise a general election of a genuinely democratic civilian government.

Idi Amin Attributed

Slavery is not bad. Some people need to be slaves. I wish they would bring it (slavery) back. I would certainly buy a few.

Mark Robinson Disputed

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