William Hazlitt Quote

“The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves.”

~ William Hazlitt

Political Essays (1819). 'The Times' Newspaper

Ratings and Comments


J Carlton, Calgary

Contrary to what Billary will tell you, this is a true statement. How could we possibly live in a society where we expect our rights and freedoms to be respected and honored without offering the same to others? Liberty breeds a healthy environment for everyone. And those who require life long government handouts should just move to France. (Not Inc. the disabled)

Mike, Norwalk

ok, I like it.

warren, olathe

Liberty does not work if we do not take responsibility to rule ourselves. Billary gets power from people's lack of responsibility.

Anonymous, Reston, VA US

It is amazing to me how some of the posters here can turn what is a powerful message of hope and thought for the needs of society into a hate statement against those of society who are less lucky than others and need society's support. It is doublely bizzare that one of these attacks against liberal US polititians comes from what appears to be a resident of Canada who is telling people (not clear of which country) to move to France... that is a logic only one of the ilk of King George W or his jestors could come up with... at least we agree on the quality of the quote, though it is fairly clear that the other poster must not really get the full meaning of what it says...

E Archer, NYC

Reston's got a point. Today's politics is about POWER pure and simple -- and GWB/Cheney and Co. are perhaps the most abusive of Executive power I have ever seen in American history. The Klinton's are no less to be feared for they will oppress us for our own good, too. The quest for power will always have to be dealt with else we will have Kings and Pharaoh's once again.

RobertSRQ
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RobertSRQ    12/26/07

Right on Reston - why ruin a perfectly good quote with political rhetoric... Occasionally history has provided benevolent dictators but they are few in number.

J Carlton, Calgary

Anonymous. I am an American living in Canada. One of the many nations greatly effected by US foreign policy. France is a socialist nation...its one of a few destinations for the socialist minded as far as I'm concerned. And there is no hate in my message...just reality. America is going down the tubes...

RobertSRQ
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    RobertSRQ    12/27/07

    I thought Canada is a socialist state and France a Republic

    Editor, Liberty Quotes

    Just a clarification since Liberty-Tree.ca is based in Canada. Canada is a Constitutional Monarchy -- it is not a socialist state per se. I would also add that while the USA was established as a 'democratic-republic' it has everything a socialist state has except a formal national health care system. It has implemented welfare, farm and corporate subsidies, a central bank, progressive income taxes, and many other planks of the Communist Manifesto. Canadians may have national health care and a public safety net second to none, but they are not hypocritical about the nature of their government -- contrary with the US. Keep that in mind when the urge to bash America's largest trading partner exceeds the American desire to preserve the principles of Liberty and Independence. Canadians are about the kindest people in the world -- and they happen to admire the Freedom that Americans take for granted. Oh, and they have never burned down the capital of any sovereign nation -- that is except for Washington, D.C.. Cheers!

    Judith, Corrales NM

    Unfortunately we do not seem to get anyone in high office who is not a power monger and is not connected to wealth, either by family or by influence. Kuchinich's and Ron Paul's of the world are suppressed by media so the mainstream sheeple have no knowledge of him or what he stands for. It does not look good for America, and I respect the Canadians immensly and sympthize with their proximetry. Does Canada not know that Bush and Canadian and Mexico leaders are forming an alliance, and eventually we will be renamed? What are the Canadian people doing about it?? We must work for liberty or we will all lose it.

    Mike, Norwalk

    It is an extremely accurate observation so, I up my previous comment to I like it A LOT !

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