What’s inside
Twelve American History quotes for some great discussion. Do you see any similarities to today?
A Dozen American History Quotes
For your consideration, I have curated a dozen quotes from famous American leaders—and from one Frenchman who wrote Democracy in America.
These quotes will make an excellent addition to your history studies, for copywork, for your commonplace notebook, or for discussion.
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Quotes
Here are the American History quotes with images.
- “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” — John F. Kennedy, 1961
- “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” — President Abraham Lincoln, c. 1838
- “There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.” — Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835
- “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” — George Washington, 1783
- “The American republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.” — Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835
- “How do you tell a Communist? Well, it’s someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It’s someone who understands Marx and Lenin.” — President Ronald Reagan, 1987
- “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” — Benjamin Franklin, 1755
- “Give me liberty, or give me death!” — Patrick Henry, 1775
- “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” — Martin Luther King Jr., 1963
- “America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” — Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835
- “To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do.” — John Adams, c. 1800
- “I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” — not actually said by Thomas Jefferson
Keep Learning
Hope you had some fun with these. Put De Toqueville’s book on your high schooler’s reading list for American History.
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More to learn
- Read more interesting articles at American Heritage or get their free download of Historic Quotes and use them for copywork and discussion
- Ben Franklin’s quote on giving up liberty is usually misquoted | Tech Crunch
- Also, In 1922, Coleman Cox coined the quote about luck commonly attributed to Thomas Jefferson. But it was a saying before that according to Quote Investigator.