D
Davis, David
“The Constitution of the United States is a law for rulers and people, equally in war and peace, and covers with the shield of its protection all classes of men, at all times, and under all circumstances. …” – David Davis, Ex-Parte Milligan, 4 Wallace 2, 1866
De Sylva, Buddy (See Lew Brown)
Dickinson, John
“Then join hand in hand, brave Americans, all, - By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.” – John Dickinson, ‘The Liberty
The Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms—1775
Douglas, William O.
“Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. …” – William O. Douglas, address, Author’s Guild, Dec 3, 1952
“The American Government is premised on the theory that if the mind of man is to be free, his ideas, his beliefs, his ideology, his philosophy must be placed beyond the reach of government.” – William O. Douglas , interview, New York Times, Oct 29, 1973
Douglass, Frederick
“I know of no rights of race superior to the rights of man.” – Frederick Douglass, letter to Gerrit Smith, Mar 30, 1849
Downer, Silas
“We will be freemen, or we will die.” – Silas Downer, 1768
Drake, Joseph Rodman
“When Freedom from her mountain height, Unfurled her standard to the air, She tore the azure robe of night, And set the stars of glory there. …” – Joseph Rodman Drake, The American Flag, 1819, st. 1
Driver, William
“I name thee Old Glory.” – William Driver, saluting a new American flag hoisted to the masthead of his brig, the Charles Doggett, Aug 10, 1831
Dunbar, Paul Lawrence
“I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore, When he beats his bars and would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven, he flings–I know why the caged bird sings!” – Paul Laurence Dunbar, “Sympathy,” 1899
E
Einstein, Albert
“By academic freedom I understand the right to search for truth and to publish and teach what one holds to be true. This right implies also a duty: one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be true.” – Albert Einstein, letter
Eisenhower, Dwight D.
“History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
“…‘peace and friendship, in freedom.’ ” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
“Only our individual faith in freedom can keep us free.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
“Freedom from fear and injustice and oppression will be ours only in the measure that men who value such freedom are ready to sustain its possession.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
“…I call upon all who love freedom to stand with us now. Together we shall achieve victory.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower, Broadcast on D-Day, Jun 6, 1944
Emerson, Ralph Waldo
“For what avail the plough or sail, Or land or life, if freedom fail?” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world. …” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Concord
“Today unbind the captive, So only are ye unbound; Lift up a people from the dust, Trump of their rescue, sound!” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, May-Day and Other Pieces, 1867, Boston
Farragut, David G.
“Damn the torpedos! Full speed ahead!” – David G. Farragut, at the battle of Mobile Bay Aug 5, 1864
Faulkner, William
“We cannot choose freedom established on a hierarchy of degrees of freedom, or a caste system of equality like military rank. We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.” – William Faulkner, in Harper’s, Jun 1956
Frankfurter, Felix
“Freedom of expression is the well-spring of our civilization. …” – Felix Frankfurter, concurring opinion, Dennis et al. v. U.S., 1951
Franklin, Benjamin
“Love, and be loved.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack
“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” – Benjamin Franklin
“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania
“We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” – Benjamin Franklin, on signing the Declaration of Independence
Friedman, Milton
“Freedom is a rare and delicate plant. …” – Milton Friedman, Capitalism and Freedom, 1962
Fromm, Erich
“Uniformity and freedom are incompatible. …” – Erich Fromm, quoted in Huxley, Brave New World Revisited, 1956
G
Garrison, William Lloyd
“…I am in earnest – I will not equivocate – I will not excuse – I will not retreat a single inch – and I will be heard!” – William Lloyd Garrison, “Salutatory Address” in The Liberator, Jan 1, 1831
Grant, Ulysses S.
"I know only two tunes. One is 'Yankee Doodle' and the other one isn't." – Ulysses S. Grant
“No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works.” – Ulysses S. Grant, to General Simon Bolivar Buckner, under siege at Fort Donelson Feb 16, 1862
Green, Thomas
“[I seek a Flag to take] to the chiefs of the nation [that will assure their safe passage when traveling on missions for the Continental Army], Thomas Green, request to Congress, Jun 3, 1777
Greenwood, Lee
“…I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. …” – Lee Greenwood, ‘God Bless the U.S.A.
Grubor, Edmund L.
Edmund L. Grubor’s “The Caisson Song,” 1908
Guest, Edgar A.
“Somebody said that it couldn’t be done, But he with a chuckle replied That maybe it couldn’t, but he would be one Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.” – Edgar Albert Guest, It Couldn’t Be Done
H
Hale, Edward Everett
“…Our fathers,” says he, “that their sons might be free, Left their king on his throne, and came over the sea;…” – Edward Everett Hale, New England’s Chevy Chase
Hale, Nathan
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” – Nathan Hale, prior to his execution by the British for spying, Sep 22, 1776
Hamilton, Alexander
“Here, sir, the people rule.” – Alexander Hamilton, in reference to the House of Representatives, 1787
“[the courts have a duty] to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void.” – Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist, 1787-88
“The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written as with a sun beam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.” – Alexander Hamilton, “The Farmer Refuted,” Feb., 1775
Hamilton, Andrew
“It is the best Cause; the Cause of Liberty; …That to which Nature and the Laws of our Country have given us a Right, – the Liberty
Hancock, John
“There, I guess King George will be able to read that.” – John Hancock
Harburg, Edgar
“We gotta be free – The eagle and me.” – Edgar Harburg, Bloomer Girl with Harold Harlen, 1944. The Eagle and Me
Henry, Patrick
“…The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. …What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” – Patrick Henry, speech in support of resolutions for armed resistance to the British, Virginia Convention, Mar 23, 1775
Hess, John Loft
“To withhold news is to play God.” – John Loft Hess, Nieman Reports, summer issue, 1976
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Sr.
“…There are battles with Fate that can never be won! The star-flowering banner must never be furled, For its blossoms of light are the hope of the world! …” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Brother Jonathan’s Lament for Sister Caroline [December 20, 1860 ]
Hoover, Herbert
“The spark of liberty in the mind and spirit of man cannot be long extinguished; it will break into flames that will destroy every coercion which seems to limit it.” – Herbert Hoover
“…plan how you may help those who want desperately to help themselves, but can find no practical way to do so.” – Lou Henry Hoover, radio broadcast to 4-H Clubs, Nov 7, 1931
Hopkinson, Joseph
“…Firm, united, let us be, Rally round our liberty; As a band of brothers joined, Peace and safety we shall find.” – Joseph Hopkinson, ‘Hail, Columbia
Horton, Zilphia
“We shall overcome, we shall overcome, We shall overcome some day Oh, deep in my heart I do believe We shall overcome some day.” – “We Shall Overcome,” Zilphia Horton, Frank Hamilton, Guy Carawan, and Pete Seeger, 1945
“We’ll walk hand in hand”
Howe, Julia Ward
Julia Ward Howe’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” 1862
Huerta, Dolores
“Si, se puede! (Yes, we can!)” – Dolores Huerta, c. 1962, slogan
Hughes, Charles Evans
“When we lose the right to be different, we lose the privilege to be free.” – Charles Evans Hughes
