Political Quotes

Josiah Quincy: “It may not, indeed, be sufficiently potent in its operation to prevent the thirst for blood which follows offensive…”

On the record
It may not, indeed, be sufficiently potent in its operation to prevent the thirst for blood which follows offensive words; but I believe it has prevented, and will prevent, any such occurrences as we have witnessed here.
Said by
Josiah Quincy
Federalist · Massachusetts

Editor's note · Context

Quincy believes that while not entirely effective, certain measures can help prevent violent confrontations stemming from insults.

Share

More from Josiah Quincy

Union!' be this the watchword of your camp; and if Ate, hot from hell, will come and cry 'Havoc!' fight--fight and conquer, under the banner of universal freedom.

gutenberg.org

They have transmitted that freedom to you; and upon you now devolves the duty of transmitting it unimpaired to your posterity.

gutenberg.org

His spirit of liberty was fostered and inspired by the writings of Milton, Sydney, and Locke, of which the American Declaration of Independence was an emanation, and the constitution of the United States, with the exception of the clauses…

gutenberg.org

The spirit of freedom and the spirit of slavery are drawing together for the deadly conflict of arms.

gutenberg.org

Other voices in this conversation