Lajos Kossuth
The house of Austria has publicly used every effort to deprive the country of its legitimate Independence and Constitution, designing to reduce it to a level with the other provinces long since deprived of all freedom, and to unite all in a common sink of slavery.Collection: Independence
The policy of the house of Austria, which aimed at destroying the independence of Hungary as a state, has been pursued unaltered for three hundred years.Collection: Independence
Hungary is, in a word, in a state of WAR against the Hapsburg dynasty, a war of legitimate defence, by which alone it can ever regain independence and freedom.Collection: Independence
Neutrality, as a lasting principle, is an evidence of weakness.
The power that is supported by force alone will have cause often to tremble.
In my opinion, the form of Government may be different in different countries, according to their circumstances, their wishes, their wants. England loves her Queen, and has full motive to do so.
Now that I am a deputy, I will cease to be an agitator.
I am a straightforward man.
Yet my humble capacity has not preserved me from calumnies.
If I had undertaken the practical direction of military operations, and anything went amiss, I feared that my conscience would torture me, as guilty of the fall of my country, as I had not been familiar with military tactics.
In exile, I have tried to profit by the past and prepare for the future.
The unspoken word never does harm.
The principle of evil in Europe is the enervating spirit of Russian absolutism.
The time draws near, when a radical change must take place for the whole world in the management of diplomacy.
I can understand Communism, but not Socialism.
Now since France has three times in sixty years failed to obtain practical results from Political revolutions, all Europe is apt to press forward into new Social doctrine to regulate the future.
Men like me, who merely wish to establish political freedom, will in such circumstances lose all their influence, and others will get influence who may become dangerous to all established interests whatsoever.
I consider no man honest who does not observe towards other nations the principles which he desires to be observed towards his own: and therefore I will not interfere in your domestic questions.
My nomination to be Governor was not to gratify ambition.
The Hungarian ministry begged the king earnestly to issue orders to all troops and commanders of fortresses in Hungary, enjoining fidelity to the Constitution, and obedience to the ministers of Hungary.
Upon this the Hungarian ministers resigned, but the names submitted by the president of the council, at the demand of the king, were not approved of for successors.
I have to thank the People, the Congress, and the Government of the United States for my liberation.
Your generous part in my liberation is taken by the world for the revelation of the fact, that the United States are resolved not to allow the despots of the world to trample on oppressed humanity.
I came not to your glorious shores to enjoy a happy rest - I came not to gather triumphs of personal distinction, but as a humble petitioner, in my country's name, as its freely chosen constitutional leader, to entreat your generous aid.
I believe that the confidence of Hungary in me is not shaken by misfortune nor broken by my calumniators.
I will not become a Napoleon nor an Alexander, and labour for my own ambition; but I will labour for freedom and for the moral well-being of man.
I must therefore implore your indulgence for a pretty long and plain development of my views concerning that cause which the citizens of New York, and you particularly, gentlemen, honour with generous interest.
And if you cannot remain indifferent, you must resolve to throw your weight into that balance in which the fate and condition of man is weighed.
You must be a power on earth, and must therefore accept all the consequences of this position.
It is chiefly in New York that I feel induced to urge this, because New York is, by innumerable ties, connected with Europe - more connected than several parts of Europe itself.
Even in political considerations, now-a-days, you have stronger motives to feel interested in the fate of Europe than in the fate of the Central or Southern parts of America.
I am a man of peace, God knows how I love peace; but I hope I shall never be such a coward as to mistake oppression for peace.Collection: Peace
Liberty is a principle; its community is its security; exclusiveness is its doom.Collection: Community
It is the surmounting of difficulties that makes heroes.Collection: Hero
Nationality is the aggregated individuality of the greatest men of the nation.Collection: Men
The cause of freedom is identified with the destinies of humanity, and in whatever part of the world it gains ground by and by, it will be a common gain to all those who desire it.Collection: Destiny
Gentlemen, do you know what is the finest speech that I ever in my life heard or read? It is the address of Garibaldi to his Roman soldiers, when he told them: "Soldier, what I have to offer you is fatigue, danger, struggle and death; the chill of the cold night in the free air, and heat under the burning sun; no lodgings, no munitions, no provisions, but forced marches, dangerous watchposts and the continual struggle with the bayonet against batteries;- - those who love freedom and their country may follow me." That is the most glorious speech I ever heard in my life.Collection: Country
Humility is the part of wisdom, and is most becoming in men. But let no one discourage self-reliance; it is, of all the rest, the greatest quality of true manliness.Collection: Wisdom
I know that there is one God in heaven, the Father of all humanity, and heaven is therefore one. I know that there is one sun in the sky, which gives light to all the world. As there is unity in God, and unity in the light, so is there unity in the principles of freedom. Wherever it is broken, wherever a shadow is cast upon the sunny rays of the sun of liberty, there is always danger of free principles everywhere in the world.Collection: Father
Argument is not always truth.Collection: Argument
No man can force the harp of his own individuality into the people's heart; but every man may play upon the chords of the people's heart, who draws his inspiration from the people's instinct.Collection: Sympathy
Fear must rule in a despotism.Collection: Despotism
There is a sort of natural instinct of human dignity in the heart of man which steels his very nerves not to bend beneath the heavy blows of a great adversity. The palm-tree grows best beneath a ponderous weight, even so the character of man. There is no merit in it, it is a law of psychology. The petty pangs of small daily cares have often bent the character of men, but great misfortunes seldom. There is less danger in this than in great good luck.Collection: Character
Judgment of the people is often wiser than the wisest men.Collection: Men
The era of Christianity peace, brotherhood, the Golden Rule as applied to governmental matters is. yet to come, and when it comes, then, and then only, will the future of nations be sure.Collection: Brotherhood
Light has spread, and even bayonets think.Collection: Thinking
The brave are parsimonious of threats.Collection: Bravery
Let him who looks for a monument to Washington look around the United States. Your freedom, your independence, your national power, your prosperity, and your prodigious growth are a monument to him.Collection: Independence
Bravery is often too sharp a spur.Collection: Bravery
The protection of God cannot, without sacrilege, be invoked but in behalf of justice and right.Collection: Prayer