Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa Quotes
Numbers do not constitute strength, better the few who conquered at Marathon, than the vast host led to oppose them. A house divided within itself must fall, a small serried column confident in its strength, knowing the devotedness of each within it, and carried along as one man by a settled purpose can break through the advance ranks of a wavering unsteady soldiery, obeying various impulses and distrustful of each other.
He had been exiled to the United States. The “house divided” phrase was probably suggested by Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech of 1958 (see {619494}) although they both probably referenced the Biblical references of Mark 3:25; also Matthew 12:25. The Irish radicals followed the American political scene intently at the time.
Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, 1831-1915, Irish Revolutionist, Founder, the Phoenix National and Literary Society, Editor, American Edition of United Irishmen Letter to the editor of The Irish People, November 28th, 1863
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
See Mark {606304}; also Matthew {606727}. Lincoln had used the “house divided” biblical metaphor in 1843 when arguing for Whig solidarity. The first political use of the Biblical metaphor and quotation with respect to American slavery appears to have been by Sam Houston in 1850 {603970}. The first use with respect to American slavery was byMassachusetts abolitionist, Edmund Quincy, in 1852. The second sentence of this famous quotation was forsaged earlier. See Lincoln, {619494} & {584918}. Also See Felix Rohatyn who used the Lincoln line to refer to poverty: {70611}.
Referring to the Democratic Party of 1988:
- Born: September 4, 1831
- Died: June 29, 1915
- Nationality:
- Profession:
Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa was an Irish Fenian leader and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
