The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.

Thomas Jefferson

Read this letter at the National Archives website

More information about this quote

Topic

Freedom Political violence

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Medium

Letter

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Occupation

Founding Father American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to William Stephens Smith. 13 Nov. 1787.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Col. Smith, Nov. 13, 1787." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Including the Autobiography, The Declaration of Independence & His Public and Private Letters, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Thomas Jefferson about freedom: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood…”
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A quote by Thomas Jefferson about freedom: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood…”
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A quote by Thomas Jefferson about freedom: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Thomas Jefferson

We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a feather-bed.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Price of freedom

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Medium
Letter
Language
English
Time
1790 1790s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Marquis de Lafayette. 2 Apr. 1790.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "The Marquis de Lafayette, April 2, 1790." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Including the Autobiography, The Declaration of Independence & His Public and Private Letters, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

Another quote from the 1780s

Every project has been found to be no better than committing the lamb to the custody of the wolf, except that one which is called a balance of power.

John Adams

More information about this quote
Topic
Constitutional theory Political theory

Author

John Adams
Source
Letters of John Adams
Medium
Letter
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1789 1780s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Adams, John. Letter to Roger Sherman. 17 July 1789.

Current Citation

Adams, John. "Correspondence with Roger Sherman and John Taylor." The Portable John Adams. Penguin Classics, 2004.

Another quote about Freedom

Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn human beings.

Heinrich Heine

More information about this quote
Topic
Book burning Censorship Freedom of speech and expression Freedom Totalitarianism

Author

Heinrich Heine
Source
Almansor
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragic play
Language
German
Time
1821 1820s 19th century
Authentication Score 1
Citation

Heine, Heinrich. Almansor. 1821.

Another quote of the following type Metaphor, analogy and simile

Got to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight.

Bruce Cockburn

Lovers in a Dangerous Time

Listen to Lovers in a Dangerous Time at Amazon Listen to Lovers in a Dangerous Time at Amazon
Read the lyrics to Lovers in a Dangerous Time
More information about this quote
Topic
Progress
Speaker
Bruce Cockburn
Source
Lovers in a Dangerous Time Stealing Fire
Medium
Song
Genre
Pop music
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1984 1980s 20th century
Authentication Score 2
Citation

Cockburn, Bruce. "Lovers in a Dangerous Time." Stealing Fire. True North Records, 1984.