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
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Freedom
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“After World War II, Lithuanian partisans testified through their tragic fate that the Stalinist Soviet Union did not destroy the dignity and idealism of Lithuania. At the close of the century, thousand-strong crowds of freedom seekers answered the call of the Sąjūdis movement to stand up for freedom.”
Valdas Adamkus (born 1926) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I have chosen the political identity of “feminist” because I believe in my own autonomy, choice and freedom—as well as those of all other women. African women continue to face the denial of autonomy, choice and freedom in all areas of life, alongside an enduring lack of access to and control of all kinds of opportunities and resources.”
Lynne Muthoni Wanyeki (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Should Buonapart' come with his sans culotte band, And a new sort of freedom we don't understand, And make us an offer to give us as much As France has bestow'd on the Swiss and the Dutch, His fraud and his force Will be futile of course; We wish for no Frenchified Freedom.”
Thomas Green Fessenden (1771–1837) said by 1837 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Makeup, style, and beauty should never be about restriction. They should be about freedom—the freedom to feel like you, at every stage and in every season of life”
Ruby Hammer (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Even today, for many people, their freedom is built on and based on the non-freedom of others: this has been the case for centuries when slavery was useful for economic development, and it continues to be the case today in new and more hypocritical forms, perpetuating the same arrogance and barbarism as always.”
Paolo Crepet (born 1951) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I chose to go the business route as political freedom needed economic freedom to blossom.”
Robert Gumede (born 1963) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I love the freedom to choose what I want to do, the freedom that comes with owning my time, while still being able to be present for my young family”
Ayanda Thabethe (born 1986) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To answer this question I need to put it into context. In terms of freedom, the situation has changed. People are exercising their freedom of speech. The media now reports on issues that they were not able to during Magufuli’s time. However, nothing has changed in terms of laws; for example, police chief Simon Sirro is still the head of a law enforcement institution.”
Zitto Kabwe (born 1976) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Freedom of Speech Doesn’t Include Freedom to Lie.”
Risa Hontiveros (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Nothing contrasts more with the Christian conception of hope in the earthly paradise, in the kingdom of freedom and justice. None of the liberal and secularist philosophies escapes the sin of Adam. Every revolution hides the temptation of Eden. On the contrary, the only freedom left to the believer is that of ascending to God to achieve justice. (I, I; p. 21)”
Giovanni Spadolini (1925–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am convinced that the theory of contemporary democracy must respond to the dilemmas that arise in a changed world, which is simply our own. And I wonder what interpretation of democratic freedom is most appropriate for this purpose, if this purpose is shared. The question now is this: what grammar of freedom, in times of internal unrest within democracy and external hostility towards democracy?”
Salvatore Veca (1943–2021) said by 2021 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We must enlarge political participation, safeguard freedom and human rights, and assure that democracy and freedom are based on the will of all the people.”
Chiang Ching-kuo (1910–1988) first seen 1978 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Inauguration of President Chiang Ching-kuo" in Taiwan Today (1 June 1978)
“Daddy Neptune one day to Freedom did say, If ever I live upon dry land, The spot I should hit on wou'd be little Britain! Says Freedom, "Why that's my own island!" O, it's a snug little island! A right little, tight little island, Search the globe round, none can be found So happy as this little island.”
Thomas John Dibdin (1771–1841) first seen 1797 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Snug Little Island", st. 1. The British Raft (c. 1797). Joseph Woodfall Ebsworth, DNB, vol. 15 (1888) p. 10:—"At Canterbury [Dibdin] wrote The British Raft, ridiculing the threatened French invasion, and its one son…
“[Freedom of thought] It is the freedom to think what one wants and to express everything one thinks, within the limits of truth and morality: without these, it could become an insult, slander, or perversion.”
Igino Giordani (1894–1980) said by 1980 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Freedom of thought, like any activity of the mind, is valid if it respects the freedom of thought of others: it must therefore not offend the thoughts of others.”
Igino Giordani (1894–1980) said by 1980 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In a liberal society, academic freedom and civic freedom are interdependent, but they are not the same.The first relates to the universal republic of letters, the second to the limited body politic. The recognition each must pay the other produces a delicate balance, easily upset when contestants locked in political struggle begin to see the university as a weapon or an obstacle.”
Carl Emil Schorske (1915–2015) said by 2015 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To those who said to them that we prepared disorder, the Radicals of the old school answered that they'd learned to distinguish between “the Communists, guardians of freedom, and the fascists, hateful enemies of that freedom.”
Maurice Thorez (1900–1964) first seen 1937 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Fils du Peuple, Thorez’s autobiography, published 1937, 1970 edition
“[..] freedom in economy means a lot; it means [..] first of all freedom from fiscal oppression. (p. 100).”
Tommaso Foti (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“we believe that freedom of speech and expression, together with freedom of association and assembly are at the heart of a democratic society.”
Thulani Maseko (1970–2023) said by 2023 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Nobody can grant you freedom. They can recognise the freedom you should have had from birth.”
Dudley Joseph Thompson (1917–2012) said by 2012 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Academic freedom is about testing the limits of this risk and helping clarify for all of us, even if we don't agree, why academic freedom continues to matter.”
Pumla Dineo Gqola (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My freedom stops where the freedom of others begins.”
Lounès Matoub (1956–1998) said by 1998 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It really did change [my life]. It gave me this feeling of freedom that I hadn't felt previously. The only feeling I felt that compares to that type of freedom is finding God and building a relationship with him,”
China Anne McClain (born 1998) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I think freedom, in the Indian team, whether it's captain Virat bhai or Rohit bhai, or anyone else, they give you freedom.”
Rahul Chahar (born 1999) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In December, 1947, he made the following statement: "I came to America because of the great, great freedom which I heard existed in this country. I made a mistake in selecting America as a land of freedom, a mistake I cannot repair in the balance of my life.”
Albert Einstein (disputed) first seen 1950 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Attributed in FBI Memo, February 13, 1950 (item 61-4099-25 in Einstein's FBI file—viewable online as p. 72 of "Albert Einstein Part 1 of 14" here, as well as p. 72 of the pdf file which can be downloaded here). There is…
“There is no greater freedom than the freedom to obey.”
Augustine of Hippo (misattributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Art is on the side of the oppressed. Think before you shudder at the simplistic dictum and its heretical definition of the freedom of art. For if art is freedom of the spirit, how can it exist within the oppressors?”
Edith Wharton (misattributed) first seen 1984 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Nadine Gordimer, "The Essential Gesture: Writers and Responsibility", The Tanner Lectures on Human Values, University of Michigan (12 October 1984), p. 9
“Democracy destroys itself because it abuses its right to freedom and equality. Because it teaches its citizens to consider audacity as a right, lawlessness as a freedom, abrasive speech as equality, and anarchy as progress.”
Isocrates (misattributed) first seen 2010 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A falsified quote invented during the 2010 financial crisis. Isocrates' actual, more nuanced, quote from the Areopagiticus runs:
“I am not bloodthirsty. I am working for my country and the coming generations. I can't waste my time on a few young idiots. I don't believe the tortures attributed to the SAVAK are as common as people say, but I can't run everything. Besides, we have ways of using psychological pressure that are much more effective than torture... My people have every kind of freedom, except the freedom to betray.”
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (attributed) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Gérard de Villiers (1975), The Imperial Shah: An Informal Biography, page 259
“Let me assure you all that Government is fully, committed to ensuring your peace and security. We are firmly committed to ensuring the rule of law prevails in our beloved country. As I have said before our Constitution provides for freedom of expression and assembly but these freedoms must be exercised within the law and with due regard for the rights and freedom of others.”
Timoci Bavadra (1934–1989) said by 1989 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Klu Klux Klan and the racial segregation that was so dramatically challenged during the mid-twentieth century freedom movement was produced not during slavery but rather in an attempt to manage free black people who would have been far more successful in pushing forward democracy for all.”
Angela Davis (born 1944) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is not only the privilege, but also the duty of free people – to speak out against any ideology that threatens freedom. Hence it is a right and a duty … to speak the truth about the evil ideology that is called Islam.”
Geert Wilders (born 1963) first seen 2011 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech (7 February 2011)
“[T]hat liberal world that emerged after 1945 led to one of the most spectacularly successful periods in human history. There was material progress. There was stability. There was human freedom. There was the flourishing of many human activities that can only take place in a liberal, and therefore free society...”
Francis Fukuyama (born 1952) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The whole and fertile spirit as guarantee For every human freedom, suffering to be free, Daring to live for the impossible.”
Muriel Rukeyser (1913–1980) said by 1980 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Food is the very heart of freedom. How can people be free if they can’t feed themselves without getting sued for patent violations?”
Daniel Suarez (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And I tell you that Americans are fucking ignorant of their freedom. They're about as free as the Chinese. Except the Chinese don't lie to themselves.”
Daniel Suarez (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You delude yourself that you live in a free country because you never test the boundaries of that freedom.”
Jacob M. Appel (born 1973) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I don't know if I would have been a stand-up comedian in Iran because, as you know, the government advocates free speech... but there's no freedom after you've spoken... It gets a bit deathy.”
Shaparak Khorsandi (born 1973) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When you destroy the walls of falsehood that you have built, everything becomes one. Only when you merge with the existence, you are free. As long as you and the existence are separated there is no such thing as freedom. -Sadhguru”
Sadhguru (born 1957) first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Isha Insights Magazine, Spring Edition 2009
“Freedom means you're free to do just whatever pleases you; — if, of course that is to say, what you please is what you may.”
Piet Hein (1905–1996) said by 1996 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If for harming himself a man forfeits his freedom, then he was never free in the first place.”
Ilana Mercer first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Addicted to that Rush,” WorldNetDaily.com, March 6, 2009.
“I believe people are not free if all they can do is cast a vote every five years to decide who should govern them. What does it mean to a man in a shack built by himself with no amenities and not knowing where his next meal is coming from, to vote? An election is about power. It is relevant to freedom only if those elected govern efficiently, honestly and carry out the electoral promises made.”
Harry Schwarz (1924–2010) first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Mercury (17 November 2009).
“Believe me, what makes the human being truly free, and what takes away his freedom, what gives him true bliss and what destroys it, isn't subject to 'progress'--it is something every genuinely alive person knows perfectly well in his own heart, if he will just listen to it!”
Robert Musil (1880–1942) said by 1942 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It seems to me that the free man, i.e., the man freed in Christ, ought to take part in all movements that aim at human freedom. He obviously ought to oppose all dictatorship and oppression and all the fatalities which crush man. The Christian cannot bear it that others should be slaves. His great passion in the world ought to be a passion for the liberation of men.”
Jacques Ellul (1912–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Why freedom? If we accept that God is love, and that it is human beings who are to respond to this love, the explanation is simple. Love cannot be forced, ordered, or made obligatory. It is necessarily free. If God liberates, it is because he expects and hopes that we will come to know him and love him.”
Jacques Ellul (1912–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The man who knows what freedom means will find a way to be free.”
Robert LeFevre (1911–1986) said by 1986 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A poem is free, and it shows its freedom by establishing its own principles.”
Robert Pinsky (born 1940) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose Nothing ain't worth nothing but it's free”
Kris Kristofferson (1936–2024) said by 2024 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.. And nothing ain't worth nothing but it's free..”
Kris Kristofferson (1936–2024) said by 2024 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“One is never free except in relation to someone else. And when, the relation is based on happiness, it allows the greatest freedom in the world.”
Françoise Sagan (1935–2004) said by 2004 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source