A. Philip Randolph Quotes

Don't ask f'r rights. Take thim. An' don't let anny wan give thim to ye. A right that is handed to ye fer nawthin has somethin the matter with it.

I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves.

Freedom cannot be bestowed - it must be achieved.

I have tasted freedom. I will not give up that which I have tasted.

Freedom is not just declared; it is exercised.

If there was one word on a motivation or world view, that one word would be 'liberty.' That's what inspires me and motivates me more than anything - just the concept of freedom, liberty, what it means.

Liberty is not merely a privilege to be conferred; it is a habit to be acquired.

If we really want liberty - if we really want liberty - then we need to go out and get it, we need to take it, because nobody is going to give it to us. And we need to do it now.

But I can tell you what your folly and injustice will compel us to do. It will compel us to be free from your domination, and more self-reliant than we have been.

Freedom is a muscle... you have to exercise it.

Freedom isn't a gift, it's a task.

Don’t play with us. If you’re not going to give us justice, let us go so that we may help ourselves….We can’t want for benevolent white people to give us handouts.

We do not want the bread made of wheat. We want the bread of liberty.

Without Country you have neither name, token, voice, nor rights …. Do not delude yourselves with the hope of emancipation from unjust social conditions if you do not first conquer a country for yourselves.

Empowerment is a word that comes with liberty.

I'm never going to let someone else tell me what I can and can't do.

Possess the spirit of independence. The Americans do, and why should not you? Possess the spirit of men, bold and enterprising, fearless and undaunted. Sue for your rights and privileges. Know the reason that you cannot attain them. Weary them with your importunities. You can but die, if you make the attempt; we shall certainly die if you do not. The Americans have practised nothing but head-work these 200 years, and we have done their drudgery. And is it not high time for us to imitate their examples, and practise head-work too, and keep what we have got, and get what we can?

Freedom is not a gift of heaven, you have to fight for it every day

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.

In true democracy every man and woman is taught to think for himself or herself.

The gift of independence once granted cannot be lightly taken away again.

Liberty is its own reward.

So keep fighting for freedom and justice, beloveds.

Equality is never given, it is taken.

Whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent