Ingrid Betancourt Quotes

I am not yet born; O fill me with strength against those who would freeze my humanity.

Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose.

Every despotism has a specially keen and hostile instinct for whatever keeps up human dignity and independence.

The States in which we dwell have twice availed themselves of our voluntary services, and have repaid us with chains and slavery. Shall we a third time kiss the foot that crushes us? If so, we deserve our chains.

I love life and want to hold onto it. But my passion for justice for my tormented people, for their dignity and freedom, must be greater still. For of what value is a life of slavery, of humiliation and contempt for that which you hold most dear: Your identity! I will therefore not give in to the Turkish Inquisition.

The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity.

Death is better than slavery.

Dignity belongs to the conquered.

The oppressed never free themselves - they do not have the necessary strengths.

The world will not accept dictatorship or domination.

Against eternal injustice, man must assert justice, and to protest against the universe of grief, he must create happiness.

Movements begin when oppressed people make - and keep remaking - a deeply inward decision to stop consenting to external demands that contradict a critical inner truth, the truth that they are worthy of respect.

A great wind swept over the ghetto, carrying away shame, invisibility and four centuries of humiliation. But when the wind dropped people saw it had been only a little breeze, friendly, almost gentle.

War is a blessing compared with national degradation.

I would fight for my liberty so long as my strength lasted, and if the time came for me to go, the Lord would let them take me.

No one can live under degradation.

It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.

The great appear great to us only because we are on our knees;, LET US RISE!

A people that patiently lets itself be trampled, deserves to be trampled and crushed.

Except in Haiti, nowhere in the world have we resisted you. We have suffered, we have grown dull and like cattle under a whip, obeyed. Why? Because, m'sieu, we have no pride! And we have no pride because we have nothing to remember.... While I live I shall try to build that pride we need, and build it in terms white men as well as black can understand. I am thinking of the future, m'sieu, not of now. I will teach pride if my teaching breaks every back in my kingdom.

You must either conquer and rule or lose and serve, suffer or triumph, and be the anvil or the hammer.

He that is taken and put into prisoner chains is not conquered, though overcome; for he is still an enemy.

Better to be in the dust than crawl near the throne.

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.

Slaves no doubt, but still men.