A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.

Obvious and inexorable oppression that cannot be overcome does not give rise to revolt but to submission.

Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.

Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.

He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.

The oppression of any people for opinion's sake has rarely had any other effect than to fix those opinions deeper and render them more important.