Patrick Henry is famous for his quote “give me liberty or give me death!” But this wasn’t his only speech. Patrick Henry was a brave defender of Liberty and an amazing orator. He fought on the anti-federalist side of the Constitutional debates and gave a very convincing case. 

One of his speeches included the quote “it is natural in man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth- and listen to the song of that syren, till she transforms us into beasts…. are we disposed to be of the number of those, who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not?” I know I’m not alone when I say I’ve had some personal experience with this quote. It is so easy to convince ourselves nothing bad is happening or that we are and always have been free. One of the most difficult things to do is admit that we’ve messed up and need to fix it. However, sometimes we need to face the facts despite the heartache and trial it may cause because if we do that, we can create a world so much better than the one we live in now. We won’t have to make ourselves believe we’re free because we will be free. 

Another quote Patrick Henry shared is “…until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained-we must fight- I repeat sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and the God of hosts, is all that is left us!” This one quote summarizes the point Patrick Henry made in almost all of his speeches… there is no easy way to restore liberty, there never has been, and there never will be. Nothing worth so much can be obtained by so little. Once again, don’t blind yourselves and believe that everything is alright, it’s not. Don’t trick yourselves into thinking that it will be easy, it won’t. But once liberty is returned there is no doubt in my mind that no one will regret the trial, sacrifice, or heartache they endured because, as Patrick Henry also said “Liberty is the greatest of all earthly blessings, give us that precious jewel and you may take everything else.” EVERYTHING else.