Thomas Clarkson Quotes

• It appears first, that liberty is a natural, and government an adventitious right, because all men were originally free.

  Thomas Clarkson

  Men, Liberty, Firsts

  Thomas Clarkson, Ottobah Cugoano (2010). “Thomas Clarkson and Ottobah Cugoano: Essays on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species”, p.124, Broadview Press

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• We cannot suppose therefore that God has made an order of beings, with such mental qualities and powers, for the sole purpose of being used as beasts, or instruments of labour.

  Thomas Clarkson

  Order, Quality, Purpose

  Thomas Clarkson, Ottobah Cugoano (2010). “Thomas Clarkson and Ottobah Cugoano: Essays on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species”, Broadview Press

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• Neither can men, by the same principles, be considered as lands, goods, or houses, among possessions. It is necessary that all property should be inferiour to its possessor. But how does the slave differ from his master, but by chance?

  Thomas Clarkson

  Men, Land, House

  Thomas Clarkson, Ottobah Cugoano (2010). “Thomas Clarkson and Ottobah Cugoano: Essays on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species”, p.124, Broadview Press

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• Most of the slaves, who were thus unconditionally freed, returned without any solicitation to their former masters, to serve them, at stated wages; as free men. The work, which they now did, was found to better done than before.

  Thomas Clarkson

  Men, Done, Wages

  Thomas Clarkson, Ottobah Cugoano (2010). “Thomas Clarkson and Ottobah Cugoano: Essays on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species”, p.63, Broadview Press

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• There are few retreats, that can escape the penetrating eye of avarice.

  Thomas Clarkson

  Eye, Retreat, Avarice

  Thomas Clarkson, Ottobah Cugoano (2010). “Thomas Clarkson and Ottobah Cugoano: Essays on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species”, p.96, Broadview Press

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• When mankind first saw the necessity of government, it is probable that many had conceived the desire of ruling.

  Thomas Clarkson

  Government, Desire, Saws

  Thomas Clarkson (1787). “An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species: Particularly the African, Translated from a Latin Dissertation, which was Honoured with the First Prize, in the University of Cambridge, for the Year 1785, with Additions. [One Line from Livy]”, p.52

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• Mankind have their local attachments. They have a particular regard for the spot, in which they were born and nurtured.

  Thomas Clarkson

  Attachment, Spots, Born

  Thomas Clarkson (1788). “An essay on the slavery”, p.60

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