Patrick Henry: “Liberty or Death” Speech

( 1775 ) Commentary by Carl Rollyson, Baruch College, The City University of New York

“Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.” - Paragraph 4
“We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne!” - Paragraph 4
“The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” - Paragraph 5
“Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable—and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.” - Paragraph 5
“I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” - Paragraph 6

A drawing depicting Patrick Henry delivering his famous speech (Library of Congress)

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