Elizabeth Barrett Browning Quotes

Clever tyrants are never punished.

Don't allow tyrants and aggressors to get away with it.

The right of a nation to kill a tyrant, in cases of necessity, can no more be doubted, than to hang a robber, or kill a flea. But killing one tyrant only makes way for worse, unless the people have sense, spirit and honesty enough to establish and support a constitution guarded at all points against the tyranny of the one, the few, and the many.

When human statecraft attaches a chain to the feet of a free man, whom it makes a slave in contempt of nature and citizenship, eternal justice rivets the other end about the tyrant's neck.

If you have done terrible things, you must endure terrible things; for thus the sacred light of injustice shines bright.

No country in the world abounds in men of higher honor and integrity than the South, but where the question of Slavery is involved, justice and honor must stand aside, and the worst passions of the worst part of society become the ruling principle. The tyrant's plea of public danger and public necessity on such occasions overrides all laws, higher and lower, and the demagogue who bids highest for the public favor, by avowing the most malignant hatred of Abolitionism, is sure to obtain power. The honor of the South, therefore, cannot be trusted where the interests of Slavery are involved, because on such occasions the voice of honor and truth is always silenced by the clamor of low, brutal and selfish passions.

America has to learn -- if you remain on the side of injustice, the wrath of God will come!

Abusers of power make enemies who eventually get even.

Emperor Napoleon is nothing but an ordinary king who tramples on human rights.

It is mad and preposterous to bring to the standard of justice and humanity the exercise of a dominion founded upon violence and terror.

Throughout the history of mankind there have been murderers and tyrants; and while it may seem momentarily that they have the upper hand, they have always fallen. Always.

Law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.

Wherever law ends, tyranny begins.

Those who exercise power always arrange matters so as to give their tyranny the appearance of justice.

Between the people and their enemies there can be nothing in common but the sword; we must govern by iron those who cannot be governed by justice; we must oppress the tyrant...

The feeling of equality which they [Americans] proudly cherish does not proceed from an ignorance of their station, but from the knowledge of their rights; and it is this knowledge which will render it so exceedingly difficult for any tyrant ever to triumph over the liberties of our country.

This hand to tyrants ever sworn the foe, For Freedom only deals the deadly blow; Then sheathes in calm repose the vengeful blade, For gentle peace in Freedom’s hallowed shade.

No government which governs by the use of force can survive except by force. There is no going back because force begets force and the perpetrators of crimes live in fear that they might become victims in their turn.

Tyrants are but the spawn of Ignorance, Begotten by the slaves they trample on.

Man is not by nature a tyrant, but becomes a tyrant by power conferred on him.

Theocracy is the worst of all governments. If we must have a tyrant, a robber baron is far better than an inquisitor. The baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity at some point be sated; and since he dimly knows he is doing wrong he may possibly repent. But the inquisitor who mistakes his own cruelty and lust of power and fear for the voice of Heaven will torment us infinitely because he torments us with the approval of his own conscience and his better impulses appear to him as temptations.

Slaves would be tyrants were the chance theirs.

This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,Was once thought honest.

A tardy vengeance shares the tyrant's guilt.