SLAVERY QUOTES V

quotations about slavery

Once slavery in America was not seen as radical. It became, instead, a revolutionary idea that slaves should be freed. When we have lived under a pernicious power long enough, no matter how oppressive, we grow so accustomed to the yoke that its removal seems frightening, even wrong.

GERRY L. SPENCE

From Freedom to Slavery

Tags: Gerry Spence


Slavery is an infringement of two laws -- of Divine law which proclaims the equality of human nature before God, and of human law which declares an equality of political rights.

ALBERT BRISBANE

Social Destiny of Man


The man born and bred a slave, even if freed, never loses wholly the feeling or manner of a slave.

MARY CLEMMER AMES

Outlines of Men, Women, and Things

Tags: Mary Clemmer Ames


There must doubtless be an unhappy influence on the manners of our people produced by the existence of slavery among us. The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other.

THOMAS JEFFERSON

Notes on the State of Virginia, 1782


A slave is but half a man.

ARISTOPHANES

attributed, Day's Collacon

Tags: Aristophanes


Better freedom with a crust, than slavery with every luxury.

CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE

Intuitions and Summaries of Thought

Tags: Christian Nestell Bovee


Do you, do you remember those days of slavery?
It wasn't black man alone, who died thru bravery.
'Though some a dem threw dem self over board,
because dis ya slaveship overload.

EEK-A-MOUSE

"Do You Remember"


It is the mind of man alone that is the cause of his bondage or freedom.

CHANAKYA

Vridda-Chanakya

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It seemed to me much more than the mere question whether the negro should remain in slavery; that it really involved the question whether liberty should be strangled on the continent dedicated to liberty.

LYMAN ABBOTT

Reminiscences

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It was considered as being bad enough to be a slave; but to be a poor man's slave was deemed a disgrace indeed!

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Tags: Frederick Douglass


Let every voice be thunder, let every heart beat strong
Until all tyrants perish our work shall not be done
Let not our memories fail us the lost year shall be found
Let slavery's chains be broken the whole wide world around.

PETER, PAUL & MARY

"Because All Men Are Brothers"


Servants to mother machine
Nursed by video screens
Paradise of insanity
Born into a grave of
Mental slavery

KREATOR

"Mental Slavery"


Slavery is a continual and permanent violation of human rights.

DANIEL WEBSTER

letter to Rev. Mr. Furness, February 15, 1850

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They keep on talking, they're oh so proud
They keep us walking, they scream so loud
They own the venue, they own he crowd
Hey, yeah, slavery

RICHIE HAVENS

"Fates"


Willingly no one chooses the yoke of slavery.

AESCHYLUS

Agamemnon

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X is not my real name, but if you study history you'll find why no black man in the western hemisphere knows his real name. Some of his ancestors kidnapped our ancestors from Africa, and took us into the western hemisphere and sold us there. And our names were stripped from us and so today we don't know who we really are. I am one of those who admit it and so I just put X up there to keep from wearing his name.

MALCOLM X

Oxford Union Debate, December 3, 1964


Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.... The subjection of individuals will increase amongst democratic nations, not only in the same proportion as their equality, but in the same proportion as their ignorance.

ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE

Democracy in America


Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, Slavery! still thou art a bitter draught; and though thousands in all ages have been made to drink of thee, thou art no less bitter on that account.

LAURENCE STERNE

A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy


All mankind is divided, as it was at all times and is still, into slaves and freemen; for whoever has not two-thirds of his day for himself is a slave, be he otherwise whatever he likes, statesman, merchant, official, or scholar.

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE

Complete Works: The First Complete and Authorised English Translation, Volume 6

Tags: Friedrich Nietzsche


Whenever a slave shall enter Hawaiian territory, he shall be free.

KAMEHAMEHA V

attributed, Day's Collacon