Charles Sumner: “Vain is honor, vain is human confidence, if these nations, at a moment…”

On the record

Vain is honor, vain is human confidence, if these nations, at a moment of high duty, can thus ignobly fail.

Said by

Massachusetts

Source

Sumner reflects on the futility of honor and confidence if nations fail to act in times of moral duty.

More from Charles Sumner

His loyalty to the Declaration of Independence, XIX. 317.

Consent of the governed necessary in forming new governments of, XII. 298.

Women’s National League, petition of, for universal emancipation, X. 300.

The only Constitutional party and party of freedom, VII. 38.

Other voices in this conversation

Charles Sumner: “Vain is honor, vain is human confidence, if these nations, at a moment of high duty, can thus ignobly fail.”