Charles Sumner Quotes

From the beginning of our history the country has been afflicted with compromise. It is by compromise that human rights have been abandoned.

By the Law of Slavery, man, created in the image of God, is divested of the human character, and declared to be a mere chattel.

The slave power dares anything, and it can be conquered only by the united masses of the people. From Congress to the people, I appeal.

If a man has done evil in his life, he must not be complimented in marble.

Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.

The true greatness of nations is in those qualities which constitute the greatness of the individual.

War crushes with bloody heel all justice, all happiness, all that is Godlike in man. In our age there can be no peace that is not honorable; there can be no war that is not dishonorable.

Give me the centralism of liberty; give me the imperialism of equal rights.

The age of Chivalry is gone. An age of Humanity has come.

No true and permanent fame can be founded, except in labors which promote the happiness of mankind.

A nation cannot afford to do a mean thing.

Let the bugles sound the Truce of God to the whole world forever.

The true grandeur of humanity is in moral elevation, sustained, enlightened and decorated by the intellect of man

I have never known a man who was sensual in his youth, who was high-minded when old.

Whether the Union stands or falls, I believe the profession of arms will henceforth be more desirable and more respected than it has been hitherto.

Can there be in our age any peace that is not honorable, any war that is not dishonorable?

The thought of going abroad makes my heart leap.

There are two sorts of pity: one is a balm and the other a poison; the first is realized by our friends, the last by our enemies.

The phrase public office is a public trust, has of last become common property.

Moral excellence is the bright consummate flower of all progress.

War is a positive, precise and specific evil, of gigantic proportions ...making within the sphere of its influence all true grandeur impossible.

I am without religious feeling.

The age of chivalry has gone the age of humanity has come.

No true and permanent Fame can be founded except in labors which promote the happiness of mankind.