Liberal Quotes
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Brought to you by the New Liberal Manifesto
“The trunk of the tree of liberalism is rooted in the soil of ethics.” Herbert Samuel 1902
December 5, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“The trunk of the tree of liberalism is rooted in the soil of ethics.” Herbert Samuel 1902
"Politicians at their peril dictate identity and culture. People can quite comfortably consider themselves both Scots and British and European, a combination of all. Indeed for the citizen it is empowering to have ownership of their identity." David Steel
December 4, 2025 at 11:50 AM
"Politicians at their peril dictate identity and culture. People can quite comfortably consider themselves both Scots and British and European, a combination of all. Indeed for the citizen it is empowering to have ownership of their identity." David Steel
“Man, as philosophy and theology know him, exists – or is realized – in politics only in the equal rights that those who are most different guarantee for each other.” Hannah Arendt
December 3, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“Man, as philosophy and theology know him, exists – or is realized – in politics only in the equal rights that those who are most different guarantee for each other.” Hannah Arendt
“You are a liberal because you know that it is not as it ought to be and because you would still march on to some nearer approach to equality.” Anthony Trollope
December 2, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“You are a liberal because you know that it is not as it ought to be and because you would still march on to some nearer approach to equality.” Anthony Trollope
"The commitment to persuasion is of the essence of social democracy." Shirley Williams
December 1, 2025 at 11:50 AM
"The commitment to persuasion is of the essence of social democracy." Shirley Williams
"Liberty does not consist in mere general declarations of the rights of men. It consists in the translations of those declarations into definite action." Woodrow Wilson
November 30, 2025 at 11:50 AM
"Liberty does not consist in mere general declarations of the rights of men. It consists in the translations of those declarations into definite action." Woodrow Wilson
“There is a part of human existence which necessarily remains individual and independent and by right beyond all political jurisdiction.” Benjamin Constant
November 29, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“There is a part of human existence which necessarily remains individual and independent and by right beyond all political jurisdiction.” Benjamin Constant
“Descartes… Constant… Taylor and Mill… Isaiah Berlin… over the centuries that long storyline established liberal values: the freedom of the individual, reason, consent in government, individual rights, the separation of powers, protection of minorities, autonomy and moderation.” Ian Dunt
November 28, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“Descartes… Constant… Taylor and Mill… Isaiah Berlin… over the centuries that long storyline established liberal values: the freedom of the individual, reason, consent in government, individual rights, the separation of powers, protection of minorities, autonomy and moderation.” Ian Dunt
“To be truly radical is to make hope possible rather than despair convincing” Raymond Williams
November 26, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“To be truly radical is to make hope possible rather than despair convincing” Raymond Williams
“I believe in freedom with the same burning delight, the same faith, the same intense abandon which attended its birth on this continent more than a century and a half ago. … I am in love with freedom and that it is an affair of long standing and that it is a fine state to be in..” E B White
November 25, 2025 at 3:14 PM
“I believe in freedom with the same burning delight, the same faith, the same intense abandon which attended its birth on this continent more than a century and a half ago. … I am in love with freedom and that it is an affair of long standing and that it is a fine state to be in..” E B White
"Liberals must ever insist that each enlargement of the authority and functions of the State must justify itself as an enlargement of personal liberty, interfering with individuals only in order to set free new and larger opportunities." Hobson
November 13, 2025 at 11:50 AM
"Liberals must ever insist that each enlargement of the authority and functions of the State must justify itself as an enlargement of personal liberty, interfering with individuals only in order to set free new and larger opportunities." Hobson
“He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that.” John Stuart Mill 1859
November 12, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that.” John Stuart Mill 1859
We remember today those who fought for this freedom.
"No man who knows aught can be so stupid to deny that all men were naturally born free," John Milton
"No man who knows aught can be so stupid to deny that all men were naturally born free," John Milton
November 11, 2025 at 11:50 AM
We remember today those who fought for this freedom.
"No man who knows aught can be so stupid to deny that all men were naturally born free," John Milton
"No man who knows aught can be so stupid to deny that all men were naturally born free," John Milton
"Each nation gives life to democracy in its own way... But history offers a clear verdict: governments that respect the will of their own people, that govern by consent, and not coercion, are more prosperous, they are more stable, and more successful than governments that do not." Barack Obama 2009
November 10, 2025 at 11:50 AM
"Each nation gives life to democracy in its own way... But history offers a clear verdict: governments that respect the will of their own people, that govern by consent, and not coercion, are more prosperous, they are more stable, and more successful than governments that do not." Barack Obama 2009
"To elect and to reject is the prerogative of the free people." Thomas Paine
November 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
"To elect and to reject is the prerogative of the free people." Thomas Paine
“We believe in the intrinsic value of every human being, and we are deeply optimistic about people. We believe that our role – and the role of government – is to ensure they have the power and freedom to thrive and fulfil their potential.” Leading the Way policy review 2025
November 8, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“We believe in the intrinsic value of every human being, and we are deeply optimistic about people. We believe that our role – and the role of government – is to ensure they have the power and freedom to thrive and fulfil their potential.” Leading the Way policy review 2025
“In our rapidly changing society we can count on only two things that will never change. ... the will to change and the fear of change. [T]he will to change motivates us to seek help. It is the fear of change that motivates us to resist the very help we seek.” Harriet Lerner, The Dance of Intimacy
November 7, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“In our rapidly changing society we can count on only two things that will never change. ... the will to change and the fear of change. [T]he will to change motivates us to seek help. It is the fear of change that motivates us to resist the very help we seek.” Harriet Lerner, The Dance of Intimacy
“We know the way to build that fair, free and open society is to empower individuals, businesses and communities to make their own choices – not to subjugate them to the power of the state, or powerful vested interests.” Leading the Way policy review 2025
November 6, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“We know the way to build that fair, free and open society is to empower individuals, businesses and communities to make their own choices – not to subjugate them to the power of the state, or powerful vested interests.” Leading the Way policy review 2025
An apposite quote for Guy Fawkes day.
“Tyranny requires your fear, your silence, and your compliance. Democracy requires your courage.” JB Pritzker, governor of Illinois
“Tyranny requires your fear, your silence, and your compliance. Democracy requires your courage.” JB Pritzker, governor of Illinois
November 5, 2025 at 11:50 AM
An apposite quote for Guy Fawkes day.
“Tyranny requires your fear, your silence, and your compliance. Democracy requires your courage.” JB Pritzker, governor of Illinois
“Tyranny requires your fear, your silence, and your compliance. Democracy requires your courage.” JB Pritzker, governor of Illinois
“There are enemies, difficulties to be faced, decisions to be made, and passions to be generated. The enemies are complacency and wrong values and inertia in the face of incompetence and injustice. It is against this enemy we march.” Jo Grimond
November 4, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“There are enemies, difficulties to be faced, decisions to be made, and passions to be generated. The enemies are complacency and wrong values and inertia in the face of incompetence and injustice. It is against this enemy we march.” Jo Grimond
“We exist to build a free society where every person’s rights and liberties are protected. Everyone should be able to live their lives as who they are: free to pursue their dreams and fulfil their potential, safe in the knowledge that their fundamental rights will be protected.” Leading the Way 2025
November 3, 2025 at 4:33 PM
“We exist to build a free society where every person’s rights and liberties are protected. Everyone should be able to live their lives as who they are: free to pursue their dreams and fulfil their potential, safe in the knowledge that their fundamental rights will be protected.” Leading the Way 2025
“Liberalism has the necessary beliefs and arguments; all it requires is liberals with confidence to deploy them.” Michael Meadowcroft
October 17, 2025 at 10:50 AM
“Liberalism has the necessary beliefs and arguments; all it requires is liberals with confidence to deploy them.” Michael Meadowcroft
"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy." Abraham Lincoln 1858
October 16, 2025 at 10:50 AM
"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy." Abraham Lincoln 1858
“Nothing appears more surprising to those who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the ease with which the many are governed by the few and the implicit submission with which men resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers.” David Hume 1742
October 15, 2025 at 10:50 AM
“Nothing appears more surprising to those who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the ease with which the many are governed by the few and the implicit submission with which men resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers.” David Hume 1742