Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette Quotes

8 Sourced Quotes

I would never have drawn my sword in the cause of America, if I could have conceived that thereby I was founding a land of slavery.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else; hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
To Washington, central star of the constellation, may it enlighten the whole world.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
Humanity has gained its suit; Liberty will nevermore be without an asylum.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
True republicanism is the sovereignty of the people. There are natural and imprescriptible rights which an entire nation has no right to violate, just as national sovereignty is above the secondary agreements of the government.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
I read, I study, I examine, I listen, I reflect, and out of all of this I try to form an idea into which I put as much common sense as I can. I shall not speak much for fear of saying foolish things; I will risk still less for fear of doing them, for I am not disposed to abuse the confidence which they have deigned to show me. Such is the conduct which until now I have followed and will follow.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
Until the infallibility of human judgment shall have been proved to me, I shall persist in demanding the abolition of the death penalty.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
When the government violates the people's rights, insurrection is, for the people and for each portion of the people, the most sacred of the rights and the most indispensable of duties.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette