Fannie Lou Hamer Quotes

I'm looking to be shot any time I step out of my car ... If I die, it will be in a good cause. I've been fighting for America just as much as the soldiers in Vietnam.

We have to be willing to give our lives to put an end to segregation. If we do, then segregation will end even if we die.

I am not afraid of the pen, or the scaffold, or the sword. I will tell the truth wherever I please.

It is heroic to prepare for war with a tyrant power. Patriots will always win the admiration of mankind for daring to meet the bloodshed of battle for their country's liberty. But the patriot who is willing to go to that sacrifice will be the first to condemn the aimless and secret shedding of blood in time of peace.

It's a hard thing when you've got guns pointed at you, to still stand up for what you believe in. Jimmie Lee and his family did that, and several others.

Never wear your best trousers when you go out to fight for freedom and truth.

It was mother's day. A lot of policemen were at home with their mothers.

One should never put on one's best trousers to go out to fight for freedom.

A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice.

There was a price paid for the freedom that we have. And that price was paid in blood…. Somebody paid a price for us to have access to that ballot box.

I have to tell you, in my judgment, some of us sitting here today will not come back alive from this campaign. I want you to think about it.

It is better to die fighting than to live begging.

Speaking truth to power is never going to be easy.

Kill As Many Of Us As You Want. We Are Not Going To Die

Telling the truth - telling thoughtful truths - should not be a revolutionary act. Speaking truths to power should not be sacrificial, but they are.

I'm not a hero. The Hongkongers who confronted tear gas in the streets are the heroes.

We, too, born to freedom, and believing in freedom, are willing to fight to maintain freedom. We, and all others who believe as deeply as we do, would rather die on our feet than live on our knees.

Truth is too important to kill it in the streets for the sake of peace.

I don't fear death; I fear remaining silent in the face of injustice. I am young and I want to live. But I say to those that would eliminate my voice: I am ready, wherever and whenever you might strike. You can cut down the flower, but nothing can stop the coming of the spring.

I cannot teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your heads before any one even at the cost of your life.

There are only two ways of telling the complete truth - anonymously and posthumously.

Ever since I came to Congress in 1992, there are those who have been trying to silence my voice. I've been told to 'sit down and shut up' over and over again. Well, I won't sit down and I won't shut up until the full and unvarnished truth is placed before the American people.

I'm going to speak my mind because I have nothing to lose.

It is always brave to say what everyone thinks.

In many ways, history is marked as 'before' and 'after' Rosa Parks. She sat down in order that we all might stand up, and the walls of segregation came down.