SLAVERY QUOTES V

quotations about slavery

Hence many slaves could escape by personating the owner of one set of papers; and this was often done as follows: A slave, nearly or sufficiently answering the description set forth in the papers, would borrow or hire them till by means of them he could escape to a free State, and then, by mail or otherwise, would return them to the owner. The operation was a hazardous one for the lender as well as for the borrower. A failure on the part of the fugitive to send back the papers would imperil his benefactor, and the discovery of the papers in possession of the wrong man would imperil both the fugitive and his friend. It was, therefore, an act of supreme trust on the part of a freeman of color thus to put in jeopardy his own liberty that another might be free. It was, however, not unfrequently bravely done, and was seldom discovered.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

"My Escape from Slavery", The Century Illustrated Magazine, November 1881


Slavery is no more sinful, by the Christian code, than it is sinful to wear a whole coat, while another is in tatters, to eat a better meal than a neighbor, or otherwise to enjoy ease and plenty, while our fellow creatures are suffering and in want.

JAMES FENIMORE COOPER

The American Democrat

Tags: James Fenimore Cooper


Slavery is an infringement of two laws -- of Divine law which proclaims the equality of human nature before God, and of human law which declares an equality of political rights.

ALBERT BRISBANE

Social Destiny of Man


War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.

GEORGE ORWELL

Nineteen Eighty-Four

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It was considered as being bad enough to be a slave; but to be a poor man's slave was deemed a disgrace indeed!

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

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Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.... The subjection of individuals will increase amongst democratic nations, not only in the same proportion as their equality, but in the same proportion as their ignorance.

ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE

Democracy in America


Whenever a slave shall enter Hawaiian territory, he shall be free.

KAMEHAMEHA V

attributed, Day's Collacon


All mankind is divided, as it was at all times and is still, into slaves and freemen; for whoever has not two-thirds of his day for himself is a slave, be he otherwise whatever he likes, statesman, merchant, official, or scholar.

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE

Complete Works: The First Complete and Authorised English Translation, Volume 6

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Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, Slavery! still thou art a bitter draught; and though thousands in all ages have been made to drink of thee, thou art no less bitter on that account.

LAURENCE STERNE

A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy


Talk about slavery! It is not the peculiar institution of the South. It exists wherever men are bought and sold, wherever a man allows himself to be made a mere thing or a tool, and surrenders his inalienable rights of reason and conscience. Indeed, this slavery is more complete than that which enslaves the body alone.... I never yet met with, or heard of, a judge who was not a slave of this kind, and so the finest and most unfailing weapon of injustice. He fetches a slightly higher price than the black men only because he is a more valuable slave.

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

journal, December 4, 1860

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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 at the Second Virginia Convention at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia, March 23, 1775


But there's no such thing as free. There are only different and more horrible ways to be enslaved.

LAUREN DESTEFANO

Fever


I never mean, unless some particular circumstance should compel me to it, to possess another slave by purchase, it being among my first wishes to see some plan adopted by which slavery in this country may be abolished by law.

GEORGE WASHINGTON

letter to John Francis Mercer, September 9, 1786

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Imprisoned with the pharaohs, i notice no race predominates, but slavery's still the norm, sarcophagus, sarcophagus, sarcophagus,flesh-consumers of the great house

RUDIMENTARY PENI

"Sarcophagus"


Gluttonized foundation
Well versed in the art of slavery
Patrons of feudal interest
Scurry around a concrete beehive
Crazed civilization frantically going nowhere

DISCORDANCE AXIS

"Empire"


In most ages many countries have had part of their inhabitants in a state of slavery; yet it may be doubted whether slavery can ever be supposed the natural condition of man. It is impossible not to conceive that men in their original state were equal; and very difficult to imagine how one would be subjected to another but by violent compulsion. An individual may, indeed, forfeit his liberty by a crime; but he cannot by that crime forfeit the liberty of his children.

SAMUEL JOHNSON

Life of Samuel Johnson, September 23, 1777

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Willingly no one chooses the yoke of slavery.

AESCHYLUS

Agamemnon

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Ye men of sense and virtue -- Ye advocates for American liberty, rouse up and espouse the cause of humanity and general liberty. Bear a testimony against a vice which degrades human nature, and dissolves that universal tie of benevolence which should connect all the children of men together in one great family -- The plant of liberty is of so tender a nature, that it cannot thrive long in the neighbourhood of slavery.

BENJAMIN RUSH

"On Slavekeeping", 1773


Once slavery in America was not seen as radical. It became, instead, a revolutionary idea that slaves should be freed. When we have lived under a pernicious power long enough, no matter how oppressive, we grow so accustomed to the yoke that its removal seems frightening, even wrong.

GERRY L. SPENCE

From Freedom to Slavery

Tags: Gerry Spence


Servants to mother machine
Nursed by video screens
Paradise of insanity
Born into a grave of
Mental slavery

KREATOR

"Mental Slavery"