Historical voices

If we get but bread to eat, and any kind of raiment to put on, we ought not only to be contented, but thankful.

What we contend for is worthy the affliction we may go through.

By the time you extended from New York to Virginia, you would be reduced to a string of drops not capable of hanging together; while we, by retreating from State to State, like a river turning back upon itself, would acquire strength in…

Were you to garrison the places you might march over, in order to secure their subjection, (for remember you can do it by no other means,) your army would be like a stream of water running to nothing.

We may be surprised by events we did not expect, and in that interval of recollection you may gain some temporary advantage: such was the case a few weeks ago, but we soon ripen again into reason, collect our strength, and while you are…

When I put all the circumstances together which ought to be taken, I laugh at your notion of conquering America.

I wish to see the city saved, not so much from military as from natural motives. 'Tis the hiding place of women and children, and Lord Howe's proper business is with our armies.

In all the wars which you have formerly been concerned in you had only armies to contend with; in this case you have both an army and a country to combat with.

When you have defeated all our armies, the cities will fall into your hands of themselves; but to creep into them in the manner you got into Princeton, Trenton, &c. is like robbing an orchard in the night before the fruit be ripe, and…

I have no other idea of conquering countries than by subduing the armies which defend them: have you done this, or can you do it?

The blood of India is not yet repaid, nor the wretchedness of Africa yet requited.

Like Alexander, she has made war her sport, and inflicted misery for prodigality's sake.

Britain, as a nation, is, in my inmost belief, the greatest and most ungrateful offender against God on the face of the whole earth.

There are such things as national sins, and though the punishment of individuals may be reserved to another world, national punishment can only be inflicted in this world.

If ever a nation was made and foolish, blind to its own interest and bent on its own destruction, it is Britain.

However, I believe most men have more courage than they know of, and that a little at first is enough to begin with.

We cannot alter nature, neither ought we to punish the son because the father begot him in a cowardly mood.

Some men have naturally a military turn, and can brave hardships and the risk of life with a cheerful face; others have not; no slavery appears to them so great as the fatigue of arms, and no terror so powerful as that of personal danger.

I am not for declaring war with every man that appears not so warm as myself: difference of constitution, temper, habit of speaking, and many other things, will go a great way in fixing the outward character of a man, yet simple honesty…

A continual circulation of lies among those who are not much in the way of hearing them contradicted, will in time pass for truth; and the crime lies not in the believer but the inventor.

We dishonor ourselves by attacking such trifling characters while greater ones are suffered to escape; 'tis our duty to find them out, and their proper punishment would be to exile them from the continent for ever.

We ask no leave of yours to set it up; we ask no money of yours to support it; we can do better without your fleets and armies than with them; you may soon have enough to do to protect yourselves without being burdened with us.

This plain language may perhaps sound uncouthly to an ear vitiated by courtly refinements, but words were made for use, and the fault lies in deserving them, or the abuse in applying them unfairly.

Had your powers been ever so great they were nothing to us, further than we pleased; because we had the same right which other nations had, to do what we thought was best.