Famous quotes

Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,158,269 quotes Who coined it · How we decide

English Italiano Polski עברית Français Português فارسی Español 中文 Русский Deutsch العربية हिन्दी 日本語 Ελληνικά Latina

Freedom

Love Friendship Happiness Hope Fear Courage Death Life Time War Peace Freedom Truth Wisdom Knowledge Science Art Music Nature Money Work Power God Beauty Laughter Family Success and failure Change Dreams Books and reading

“You Own Your Own Life... To lose your Life is to lose your Future, to lose your Liberty is to lose your Present …and to lose the product of your Life and Liberty is to lose that portion of your Past that produced it A product of your Life and Liberty is your Property.”
Ken Schoolland (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Truth Apparent, apparent to everyone's eyes who are not blinded by dogmatism, is that men are perhaps weary of liberty. They have a surfeit of it. Liberty is no longer the virgin, chaste and severe, to be fought for ... we have buried the putrid corpse of liberty ... the Italian people are a race of sheep.”
Benito Mussolini (1883–1945) first seen 1934 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Written statement (1934), quoted in Fascism and Democracy in the Human Mind : A Bridge Between Mind and Society (2006) by Israel W. Charny, p. 23
“Life without Liberty is like a body without spirit. Liberty without thought is like a disturbed spirit … Life, liberty, and thought — three persons in one substance, eternal, never-ending, and unceasing.”
Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) said by 1931 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Their coarseness is the sinew of some kind of brute confidence which is the reason England is home to every shade of political exile. They don't give asylum out of respect for asylum-seekers, but out of respect for themselves. They invented personal liberty, and they know it, and they did it without having any theories about it. They value liberty because it's liberty.”
Tom Stoppard (1937–2025) said by 2025 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In my opinion, a society that aims for equality before liberty will end up with neither equality nor liberty. A society that aims first for liberty will not end up with equality, but it will end up with a closer approach to equality than any other kind of system that has ever been developed.”
Milton Friedman (1912–2006) first seen 1978 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Milton Friedman Speaks: The Role of Government in a Free Society ” (1978)
“It is no longer open to doubt that the liberty of the press, and of speech, is within the liberty safeguarded by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment from invasion by state action. It was found impossible to conclude that this essential personal liberty of the citizen was left unprotected by the general guaranty of fundamental rights of person and property.”
Charles Evans Hughes (1862–1948) first seen 1931 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: , 283 U.S. 697 (1931).
“The Statue of Liberty means everything. We take it for granted today. We take it for granted. Remember the Statue of Liberty stands for what America is. We as Democrats have to remind ourselves and remind the country the great principles we stand for. This is a place of protection. This is not a country of bullies. We are not an empire. We are the light. We are the Statue of Liberty.”
Jerry Springer (1944–2023) first seen 2003 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech (January 2003).
“Berlin says: "… You cannot combine full liberty with full equality—full liberty for the wolves cannot be combined with full liberty for the sheep...." …. Are women sheep ("led like sheep to the slaughter")? Must women become wolves? Is violence against women a direct result of the fact that there is no inevitable, painful, retaliatory consequence for hurting women?”
Andrea Dworkin (1946–2005) said by 2005 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A Man ought to form in his own Mind an exact and clear Idea of what Liberty is. Liberty is the Right of doing whatsoever the Laws allow: And if any one Citizen could do what the Laws forbid, there would be no more Liberty; because others would have an equal Power of doing the same.”
Catherine II of Russia (1729–1796) said by 1796 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“By the word "liberty" they meant liberty for property, not liberty for persons.”
Lewis H. Lapham (1935–2024) said by 2024 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If each human being is to have liberty, he cannot also have the liberty to deprive others of their liberty.”
John Hospers (1918–2011) said by 2011 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Our two most basic political ideals—liberty and equality—are, in their purest forms, incompatible. Complete liberty results in inequality, and mandatory equality leads to a loss of liberty.”
John Allen Paulos (born 1945) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Freedom without organization of work would be useless. The child left free without means of work would go to waste, just as a new-born baby, if left free without nourishment, would die of starvation.The organization of the work, therefore, is the cornerstone of this new structure of goodness [in education], but even that organization would be in vain without the liberty to make use of it.”
Maria Montessori (1870–1952) first seen 1914 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook: A short guide to her ideas and materials (1914), Schocken Books, Inc." New York, p. 94
“Without inner psychological liberty, outer civil liberties are not quite enough. We can talk civil liberties, prosperity, democracy with the tongues of men and angels, but it is merely a case of "free from what?" and not "free for what?" if we use this freedom for no other purpose than to commit television or go lusting after supermarkets.”
Peter Viereck (1916–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The freedom to publish, of course, is also the freedom to read, the freedom to write what you want, to be able to choose what you want to read and not have it decided for you externally — and the freedom to publish books that ought to be published and sometimes are difficult to publish because of pressure from this or that group.”
Salman Rushdie (born 1947) first seen 2023 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speaking via video link from New York at the Freedom to Publish award at the British Book Awards (15 May 2023), as cited in "Salman Rushdie mocks 'comical' attempt to rewrite James Bond novels" The Times (16 May 2023)
“My grandfather ... had raised me with absolute freedom, no inhibitions, no suppressions, and no commandments.Love with freedom—if you have it, you are a king or a queen. That is the real kingdom of God—love with freedom. Love gives you the roots into the earth, and freedom gives you the wings.”
Rajneesh (1931–1990) said by 1990 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.”
Mitt Romney (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Freedom of speech and freedom of action are meaningless without freedom to think. And there is no freedom of thought without doubt.”
Bergen Evans (1904–1978) said by 1978 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“They [the slaves] have stabbed themselves for freedom—jumped into the waves for freedom—starved for freedom—fought like very tigers for freedom! But they have been hung, and burned, and shot—and their tyrants have been their historians!”
Lydia Maria Child (1802–1880) said by 1880 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“So while gun owners are always saying that owning guns is about defending freedom, the only freedom gun owners seem interested in defending with their guns is the freedom to defend their freedom to own guns.”
Dan Savage (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[W]e cannot draw a line between freedom in one place and freedom in another. Freedom, like peace, is indivisible. If we believe in freedom in Hungary, and in East Germany, then we must believe in it in Angola and in Rhodesia. Detention without trial is just as bad whether in Ghana or Hungary or Rhodesia.”
Hugh Gaitskell (1906–1963) first seen 1961 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (17 October 1961)
“Owning our seeds through seed freedom, our own food through food freedom, our own minds and intelligence through intellectual freedom, our own economies through freedom to produce and consume ecologically and locally, is the ‘barbarianism’ that the 1% would like to extinguish.”
Vandana Shiva (born 1952) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The essential freedom, the ultimate and final freedom that cannot be taken from a man, is to say No. This is the basic premise in Sartre's view of human freedom: freedom is in its very essence negative, though the negativity is also creative.”
William Barrett (philosopher) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We relinquished our freedom that day, and we were more than happy to see it go. From that moment on we lived in true freedom, the freedom to point to someone else and say “They told me to do it! It’s their fault, not mine.” The freedom, God help us, to say “I was only following orders.”
Max Brooks (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Freedom is impossible. Freedom is dead. Freedom is an absolute, a divine measure, just like goodness, evil, and happiness. It is impossible to achieve it, but striving for it is the only way to come closer to peace. The task of a human is to defend the maximum possible level of freedom in the enslavement of nature.”
Mykola Ovcharov (born 1988) first seen 2024 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Book "The Little Ethics", 2024
“Our country was established on the basis of freedom of religion, and the Constitution states there would never be any religious test for any public office. It is a freedom enshrined in our Constitution, and that every member of Congress takes an oath to protect — a freedom that many heroes have given their lives to defend. Nothing is more important to our democracy than this freedom.”
Tulsi Gabbard (born 1981) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Tulsi Gabbard: Religious bigotry is un-American", in Religious News Service (26 January 2019)
“‘The greatest gift of the modern world to man is freedom,’... ‘—freedom to think, freedom to speak, freedom to act.’”
Asaf Ali Asghar Fyzee (1899–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Arun Shourie - The World of Fatwas Or The Sharia in Action (2012, Harper Collins)
“You will never understand freedom. You and your son will never understand true freedom. You think freedom is the throne of the world, where no one can alter your words, and no one can tell you what to do, and men live or die by the slight twitch of your eyebrow. That isn’t freedom. That is a life of fear.”
J. M. McDermott (born 1979) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Freedom is immaterial and universal, and for this reason untouchable and undeniable. While liberties can be denied and curtailed, freedom cannot. While suffering for the loss of their liberties for more than a quarter of a century, Tai Ji Men dizi could always enjoy their freedom. Freedom lives in their souls and spirits and is not affected by external harassment.”
Marco Respinti (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“As the barriers against freedom for Americans because of race or religion have fallen, the freedom of all has expanded. The search for human freedom can never be complete without freedom of women.”
Betty Ford (1918–2011) said by 2011 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There are two kinds of freedom. The first is freedom around me, and the second is freedom inside me. I've always felt freedom inside and valued myself, never allowing anyone to take it. I was freer with a shovel than someone who had a high position.”
Vladimír Mečiar (born 1942) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A philosophy that consumes itself in thought consumes itself, annihilates itself. Philosophy must open the windows of freedom, the doors of freedom; it must establish freedom. A philosophy that does not establish freedom is a Procrustean bed, a guillotine.”
Cornelio Fabro (1911–1995) said by 1995 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is man’s pretence that because he has choice he is free. Freedom is pure observation without direction, without fear of punishment and reward. Freedom is without motive; freedom is not at the end of the evolution of man but lies in the first step of his existence.”
Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) said by 1986 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“fear or freedom choose freedom choose freedom -- being free is not an idea it is a feeling it emanates from within”
Prem Rawat (born 1957) first seen 2001 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: From a collection of hundreds of quotes set to music and available online at Maharaji's personal website http://www.maharaji.net/ (2001)
“Blasphemy is not a crime. It’s a right. It needs to be exercised. We have the right not to believe lies. That’s important. Freedom of religion means freedom from religion as well. You can’t have freedom to practice your religion if you’re not free from the dominant religion. It is basic sense.”
Aron Ra (born 1962) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Exclusive Interview with Aron Ra – Public Speaker, Atheist Vlogger, and Activist, Conatus News (May 17, 2017)
“However, the disappearance of domination does not entail freedom. Instead, it makes freedom and constraint coincide. Thus, the achievement-subject gives itself over to compulsive freedom--that is, to the free constraint of maximizing achievement. Excess work and performance escalate into auto-exploitation.”
Byung-Chul Han (born 1959) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“See, a lot of people think freedom means you can do anything you want. That’s not true. The more freedom you have, the more responsibility you have. My life has always been about freedom and independence. And in some ways, acting has too. What is so great about acting is that after 62 years, suddenly the technique is in you already. You don’t have to think about it anymore. Suddenly you’re free.”
Tsai Chin (born 1933) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If 'extremist' views are illegal, then the person who defines 'extremism' has the power to curtail free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and freedom of association. This is the path to authoritarianism.”
Miriam Cates (born 1982) first seen 2024 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Extracts from a series of posts on X, as cited in "Tories divided over new definition of extremism", The Times (4 March 2024).
“Liberty, n. The distinction between freedom and liberty is not accurately known; naturalists have never been able to find a living specimen of either.”
Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914) said by 1914 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The case for trade is not just monetary, but moral. Economic freedom creates habits of liberty. And habits of liberty create expectations of democracy.”
George W. Bush (born 1946) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The prosperity, and social vitality and technological progress of a people are directly determined by the extent of their liberty. Freedom honors and unleashes human creativity — and creativity determines the strength and wealth of nations. Liberty is both the plan of Heaven for humanity, and the best hope for progress here on Earth.”
George W. Bush (born 1946) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.”
George W. Bush (born 1946) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“America, the only nation ever founded in the name of liberty, never had a more ardent champion of liberty than Barry Goldwater. Simply put, Barry Goldwater was in love with freedom.”
John McCain (1936–2018) first seen 1998 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in "Goldwater Called 'Great Patriot'" at CBS News (29 May 1998)
“We believe that the Statue of Liberty is an important symbol of freedom for our country. And as [film director] Martin Scorcese, who is involved in the Statue’s latest fundraising campaign, said, what is most impressive is not just what the Statue of Liberty represents for Americans but really what it represents to the whole world.”
Kenneth Chenault (born 1951) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Our Constitution exists to secure individual freedom, the essential condition of human flourishing. Liberty is not provided by government; liberty preexists government. It’s our natural birthright, not a gift from the sovereign. Our founders upended things and divided power to enshrine a promise, not a process.”
Don Willett (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Liberties conflict with one another, and almost any policy whatever can be represented as a defence — direct or indirect — of some sort of liberty. What we need, therefore, is not a general defence of liberty, but adjudication between particular rival claims to freedom.”
J. L. Mackie (1917–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It sounded far-fetched, but democracy transformed an enemy to an ally. I know it seems far-fetched for some to believe people want to be free in the Middle East and that freedom will take hold, I think it will. Because I happen to believe freedom is universal. I believe that deep in everybody's soul is a desire to be free.”
George W. Bush (born 1946) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What we want is not freedom but its appearances. It is for these simulacra that man has always striven. And since freedom, as has been said, is no more than a sensation, what difference is there between being free and believing ourselves free?”
Emil Cioran (1911–1995) said by 1995 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Spreading the idea of freedom is a big job — it needs your help. That's why we stick to the term "free software" in the GNU Project, so we can help do that job. If you feel that freedom and community are important for their own sake — not just for the convenience they bring — please join us in using the term "free software".”
Richard Stallman (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If you think that you are bound, you remain bound; you make your own bondage. If you know that you are free, you are free this moment. This is knowledge, knowledge of freedom. Freedom is the goal of all nature.”
Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source