Wilfrid Laurier Quotes

• What is hateful is not rebellion but the despotism which induces the rebellion; what is hateful are not rebels but the men, who, having the enjoyment of power, do not discharge the duties of power; they are the men who, having the power to redress wrongs, refuse to listen to the petitioners that are sent to them; they are the men who, when they are asked for a loaf, give a stone.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Men, Tyrants, Giving

  25 Copy quote

• Canada is free and freedom is its nationality.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Canada, Nationality

  25 Copy quote

• We are here a nation, composed of the most heterogeneous elements-Protestants and Catholics, English, French, German, Irish, Scotch, every one, let it be remembered, with his traditions, with his prejudices. In each of these conflicting antagonistic elements, however, there is a common spot of patriotism, and the only true policy is that which reaches that common patriotism and makes it vibrate in all toward common ends and common aspirations.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Scotch, Catholic, Elements

  28 Copy quote

• I claim for Canada this, that in future Canada shall be at liberty to act or not act, to interfere or not interfere, to do just as she pleases, and that she shall reserve to herself the right to judge whether or not there is cause for her to act.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Judging, Liberty, Canada

  18 Copy quote

• We French-Canadians belong to one country, Canada: Canada is for us the whole world: but the English-Canadians have two countries, one here and one across the sea.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Country, Sea, Two

  10 Copy quote

• The twentieth century belongs to Canada.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Canada, Century, Twentieth Century

  9 Copy quote

• I am a subject of the British Crown, but whenever I have to choose between the interests of England and Canada it is manifest to me that the interests of my country are identical with those of the United States of America.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Country, America, United States

  21 Copy quote

• A colony, yet a nation - words never before in the history of the world associated together.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Together, World, Colony

  9 Copy quote

• I am not here to parade my religious sentiments, but I declare I have too much respect for the faith in which I was born to ever use it as the basis of a political organization

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Religious, Organization, Political

  16 Copy quote

• It is a sound principle of finance, and a still sounder principle of government, that those who have the duty of expending the revenue of a country should also be saddled with the responsibility of levying and providing it.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Country, Responsibility, Government

  11 Copy quote

• If I were not French I would choose to be - Scotch.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Scotch, Ifs

  12 Copy quote

• The Englishman respects your opinions, but he never thinks of your feelings.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Thinking, Feelings, Opinion

  Sir Wilfrid Laurier (1890). “Wilfrid Laurier on the Platform: Collection of the Principal Speeches Made in Parliament Or Before the People, by the Honorable Wilfrid Laurier ... Member for Quebec-East in the Commons, Since His Entry Into Active Politics in 1871”, Turcotte & Ménard

  8 Copy quote

• Quebec does not have Opinions, but only sentiments.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Doe, Opinion, Quebec

  13 Copy quote

• It would be simply suicidal to French Canadians to form a party by themselves.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Suicide, Party, Suicidal

  Sir Wilfrid Laurier (1890). “Wilfrid Laurier on the Platform: Collection of the Principal Speeches Made in Parliament Or Before the People, by the Honorable Wilfrid Laurier ... Member for Quebec-East in the Commons, Since His Entry Into Active Politics in 1871”, Turcotte & Ménard

  9 Copy quote

• I am quite prepared, if we can do it without any disrespect to the Crown of England, to bring our titles to the marketplace and make a bonfire of them.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Disrespect, Titles, Crowns

  46 Copy quote

• Why, so soon as French Canadians, who are in the minority in this House and in the country, were to organize as a political party, they would compel the majority to organize as a political party, and the result must be disastrous to themselves.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Country, Party, House

  "Wilfrid Laurier on the Platform".

  7 Copy quote

• Confederation is a compact, made originally by four provinces but adhered to by all the nine provinces who have entered it, and I submit to the judgment of this house and to the best consideration of its members, that this compact should not be lightly altered.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  House, Four, Nine

  9 Copy quote

• The Divinity could be invoked as well in the English language as in the French.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Divinity, Language, English Language

  7 Copy quote

• For us, sons of France, political sentiment is a passion; while, for the Englishmen, politics are a question of business.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Passion, Son, Political

  Sir Wilfrid Laurier (1890). “Wilfrid Laurier on the Platform: Collection of the Principal Speeches Made in Parliament Or Before the People, by the Honorable Wilfrid Laurier ... Member for Quebec-East in the Commons, Since His Entry Into Active Politics in 1871”, Turcotte & Ménard

  9 Copy quote

• I have been represented as a Protestant minister; there was not one of the canvassers of the honourable gentlemen opposite that did not represent to the people that I was not a Minister of the Crown, but that I was a Protestant minister

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Opposites, People, Gentleman

  8 Copy quote

• Whether splendidly isolated or dangerously isolated, I will not now debate; but for my part, I think splendidly isolated, because the isolation of England comes from her superiority.

  Wilfrid Laurier

  Thinking, England, Debate

  Speech in the Canadian House of Assembly, February 5, 1896.

  5 Copy quote

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