Charles Sumner
Charles Sumner
Charles Sumnerwas an American politician and senator from Massachusetts. As an academic lawyer and a powerful orator, Sumner was the leader of the antislavery forces in Massachusetts and a leader of the Radical Republicans in the United States Senate during the American Civil War working to destroy the Confederacy, free all the slaves, and keep on good terms with Europe. During Reconstruction, he fought to minimize the power of the ex-Confederates and guarantee equal rights to the freedmen...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth6 January 1811
CountryUnited States of America
The true greatness of nations is in those qualities which constitute the greatness of the individual.
From the beginning of our history the country has been afflicted with compromise. It is by compromise that human rights have been abandoned.
Without knowledge there can be no sure progress. Vice and barbarism are the inseparable companions of ignorance. Nor is it too much to say that, except in rare instances, the highest virtue is attained only through intelligence.
The slave power dares anything, and it can be conquered only by the united masses of the people. From Congress to the people, I appeal.
If a man has done evil in his life, he must not be complimented in marble.
The age of chivalry has gone; the age of humanity has come.
No true and permanent fame can be founded, except in labors which promote the happiness of mankind.
There are two sorts of pity: one is a balm and the other a poison; the first is realized by our friends, the last by our enemies.
A nation cannot afford to do a mean thing.
I am without religious feeling.
Moral excellence is the bright consummate flower of all progress.
Without security, civilization is cramped and dwarfed. Without security, there can be no freedom. Nor shall I say too much, when I declare that security, guarded of course by its offspring, freedom, is the true end and aim of government.
Let the bugles sound the Truce of God to the whole world forever.
The phrase public office is a public trust, has of last become common property.