I cannot surrender my principles, though the whole world besides should vote them down - I can make no compromise between truth and error, even though my life be the alternative.
Elijah Parish LovejoyRead
I have sworn eternal opposition to slavery, and by the blessing of God, I will never go back.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes an unwavering commitment to opposing slavery and highlights the speaker's resolve to never return to complacency regarding injustice.
Elijah Parish Lovejoy's quote reflects a profound moral conviction to fight against slavery and social injustice. It underscores the importance of standing firm in one's beliefs and the courage required to take a stand against oppression, indicating that such ideals are worth eternal commitment and action, driven by a sense of divine support and personal integrity.
In practice
This quote can be cited during a speech advocating for civil rights.
I cannot surrender my principles, though the whole world besides should vote them down - I can make no compromise between truth and error, even though my life be the alternative.
Abolitionists believe that, as all men are born free, so all who are now held as slaves in this country were born free, and that they are slaves now is the sin, not of those who introduced the race into this country, but of those, and those alone, who now hold them and have held them in slavery from their birth.
The cry of the oppressed has entered not only into my ears, but into my soul, so that while I live, I cannot hold my peace.
The very flag of freedom that waves over our heads is formed from material cultivated by slaves, on soil moistened with their blood drawn from them by the whip of a republican taskmaster!
It is not possible that one man can convert another into a piece of property, thus at once annihilating all his personal rights, without the most flagrant injustice and usurpation.
It was not pre-arranged. It just happened that the driver made a demand and I just didn't feel like obeying his demand. I was quite tired after spending a full day working.
I visited Jobs for the last time in his Palo Alto, Calif., home. He had moved to a downstairs bedroom because he was too weak to go up and down stairs. He was curled up in some pain, but his mind was still sharp and his humor vibrant
It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.
Armed conflict between nations is a nightmare to me; but if I were convinced that any nation had made up its mind to dominate the world by fear of its force, I should feel that it must be resisted.
There are many ways of showing your protest and discontent without the actions of Kremlin.
I've had journalists asking me, 'What do we call you - is it handicapped, are you disabled, physically challenged?' I said, 'Well hopefully you could just call me Aimee. But if you have to describe it, I'm a bilateral below-the-knee amputee.'
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