Fourth of July Quotes

American Flag
Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The Fourth of July brings lots of summery associations— barbecues spent in the summer sun, parties with friends and family, and seasonal fruits (watermelon and blueberries anyone?)—not to mention red, white, and blue everything. It's a day to celebate freedom, togetherness, and the USA, and we can't wait. This Fourth of July, let's enjoy summer, but let's also remember our shared American history and the meaning of the day. Celebrate our country's independence with these patriotic quotes.

01 of 51

Ralph Waldo Emerson on Opportunity

Ralph Waldo Emerson on Opportunity

"America is another name for opportunity."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson

02 of 51

President Harry S. Truman on America's Courage

President Harry S. Truman on America's Courage

"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand."
—President Harry S. Truman

03 of 51

Gerald Stanley Lee on Solidarity

Gerald Stanley Lee on Solidarity

"America is a tune. It must be sung together."
—Gerald Stanley Lee

04 of 51

Sinclair Lewis on America

Sinclair Lewis on America

"Intellectually I know that America is no better than any other country; emotionally I know she is better than every other country."
—Sinclair Lewis

05 of 51

Walt Disney on Laughter

Walt Disney on Laughter

"Laughter is America's most important export."
—Walt Disney

06 of 51

Patrick Henry on Liberty

Patrick Henry on Liberty

"I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
—Patrick Henry

07 of 51

President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Freedom

President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Freedom

"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved."
—President Franklin D. Roosevelt

08 of 51

President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Choice

President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Choice

"The history of free men is never really written by chance but by choice; their choice!"
—President Dwight D. Eisenhower

09 of 51

Edward Abbey on Patriotism

Edward Abbey on Patriotism

"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government."
—Edward Abbey

10 of 51

William Faulkner on Freedom

William Faulkner on Freedom

"We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it."
—William Faulkner

11 of 51

President George Washington on Peace

President George Washington on Peace

"Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all."
—President George Washington

12 of 51

Kahlil Gibran on Liberty

Kahlil Gibran on Liberty

"Life without liberty is like a body without spirit."
—Kahlil Gibran

13 of 51

President George W. Bush on Citizenship

President George W. Bush on Citizenship

"America has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests and teach us what it means to be citizens."
—President George W. Bush

14 of 51

Marquis de Lafayette on Independence

Marquis de Lafayette on Independence

"Humanity has won its battle. Liberty now has a country."
—Marquis de Lafayette

15 of 51

President Barack Obama on Freedom

President Barack Obama on Freedom

"We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense."
—President Barack Obama

16 of 51

Albert Camus on Freedom

Albert Camus on Freedom

"Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better."
—Albert Camus

17 of 51

President George Washington on Liberty

President George Washington on Liberty

"Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth."
—President George Washington

18 of 51

Condoleezza Rice on the Essence of America

Condoleezza Rice on the Essence of America

"The essence of America — that which really unites us — is not ethnicity, or nationality or religion — it is an idea — and what an idea it is: That you can come from humble circumstances and do great things. That it doesn't matter where you came from but where you are going."
—Condoleezza Rice

19 of 51

Carson McCullers on Solidarity

Carson McCullers on Solidarity

"The most fatal thing a man can do is try to stand alone."
—Carson McCullers

20 of 51

Mark Twain on Patriotism

Mark Twain on Patriotism

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it."
—Mark Twain

21 of 51

Rosa Parks on Freedom

Rosa Parks on Freedom

"I'd like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free and wanted other people to be also free."
—Rosa Parks

22 of 51

Alexander Hamilton on Government

Alexander Hamilton on Government

"Vigor of government is essential to the security of liberty."
—Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers

23 of 51

The U.N. on Free Speech

The U.N. on Free Speach

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."
—United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

24 of 51

Clarence Darrow on Patriotism

Clarence Darrow on Patriotism

"True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else."
—Clarence Darrow

25 of 51

President James Madison on Liberty

President James Madison on Liberty

"The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty."
—President James Madison

26 of 51

Patriotic Painted Mason Jars

Red, white, and blue are always appropriate colors on Southern porches, no matter what time of year it is. We love that these Patriotic Painted Mason Jars are functional, kid-friendly, and oh-so-charming. Fill with your favorite fresh blooms and display at your Fourth of July or summer party, or try using in the middle of your dinner table as an eye-catching centerpiece.

27 of 51

Voltaire on Free Speech

Voltaire on Free Speech

"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
—Voltaire

28 of 51

President Woodrow Wilson on Resistance

President Woodrow Wilson on Resistance

"Liberty has never come from the government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of resistance."
—President Woodrow Wilson

29 of 51

President John F. Kennedy on America

President John F. Kennedy on America

"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."
—President John F. Kennedy

30 of 51

William Pitt on America

William Pitt on America

"You cannot conquer America."
William Pitt

31 of 51

President Abraham Lincoln on Democracy

President Abraham Lincoln on Democracy

"Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
—President Abraham Lincoln

32 of 51

President Theodore Roosevelt on America

President Theodore Roosevelt on America

"Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance."
—President Theodore Roosevelt

33 of 51

Adlai Stevenson on Patriotism

Adlai Stevenson on Patriotism

"I venture to suggest that patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."
—Adlai E. Stevenson

34 of 51

President Thomas Jefferson on Equality

President Thomas Jefferson on Equality

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
—Thomas Jefferson

35 of 51

President Barack Obama on Patriotism

President Barack Obama on Patriotism

"So, let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look over not only ourselves, but each other."
—President Barack Obama

36 of 51

President Abraham Lincoln on Freedom

President Abraham Lincoln on Freedom

"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves"
—President Abraham Lincoln

37 of 51

President Barack Obama on Change

President Barack Obama on Change

"In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it."
—President Barack Obama

38 of 51

Benjamin Franklin on Liberty

Benjamin Franklin on Liberty

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
—Benjamin Franklin

39 of 51

President Bill Clinton on America

President Bill Clinton on America

"There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America."
—President Bill Clinton

40 of 51

President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Freedom

President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Freedom

"Only our individual faith in freedom can keep us free."
—President Dwight D. Eisenhower

41 of 51

Nelson Mandela on Freedom

Nelson Mandela on Freedom

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."
—Nelson Mandela

42 of 51

Hillary Rodham Clinton on Democracy

Hillary Rodham Clinton on Democracy

"Our constitutional democracy demands our participation, not just every four years but all the time. So let's do all we can to keep advancing the causes and values we all hold dear; making our economy work for everyone not just those at the top, protecting our country and protecting our planet and breaking down all the barriers that hold any American back from achieving their dreams."
—Hillary Rodham Clinton

43 of 51

Adlai Stevenson on America

Adlai Stevenson on America

"America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact — the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality."
—Adlai E. Stevenson

44 of 51

President Theodore Roosevelt on Patriotism

President Theodore Roosevelt on Patriotism

"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else."
—President Theodore Roosevelt

45 of 51

President Jimmy Carter on Human Rights

President Jimmy Carter on Human Rights

"America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense, it is the other way round. Human rights invented America."
—President Jimmy Carter

46 of 51

President Thomas Jefferson on Liberty

President Thomas Jefferson on Liberty

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it."
—President Thomas Jefferson

47 of 51

President John F. Kennedy on Liberty

President John F. Kennedy on Liberty

"If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all—except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty."
—President John F. Kennedy

48 of 51

President Ronald Reagan on Fighting for Freedom

President Ronald Reagan on Fighting for Freedom

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."
—President Ronald Reagan

49 of 51

Samuel Adams on Patriotism

Samuel Adams on Patriotism

"If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin."
—Samuel Adams

50 of 51

G. Edward Griffin on Patriotism

G. Edward Griffin on Patriotism

"To oppose corruption in government is the highest obligation of patriotism."
—G. Edward Griffin

51 of 51

President Thomas Jefferson on Liberty

President Thomas Jefferson on Liberty

"Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of Liberty."
—President Thomas Jefferson

Was this page helpful?
Related Articles