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.
I wish I had the courage not to fight and doubt everything... I wish, just once, I could say, 'This. This is good enough. Just because I choose it.
Let me announce, with all the strength at my command, that I am not a terrorist and I never was, expect perhaps in the beginning of my revolutionary career. And I am convinced that we cannot gain anything through those methods.
It is always the adventurers who do great things, not the sovereigns of great empires.
One of the ironies of courage, and the reason why we prize it so highly, is that we find it easier to be brave for someone else than we do for ourselves alone.
I might bend, but I will NEVER break because it's in my nature as a strong woman.
I watched pretty much every coming out video on YouTube that has ever been posted; I watched it in between 14 and a half and 15. Those coming out videos, and those people on YouTube, those brave, brave, brave people on YouTube, without them, I don't know where I'd be.
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