Quotes from James Otis

Now, one of the most essential branches of English liberty is the freedom of one's house.

Taxation without representation is tyranny.

A man's house is his castle.

My dear sister, I hope, when God Almighty in his righteous providence shall take me out of time into eternity, that it will be by a flash of lightning.

An act against the Constitution is void; an act against natural equity is void.

Now, one of the most essential branches of English liberty is the freedom of one's house.

Every one with this writ may be a tyrant if this commission be legal, a tyrant in a legal manner, also, may control, imprison, or murder any one within the realm.

I pray God I may never be brought to the melancholy trial but, if ever I should, it will then be known how far I can reduce to practice principles which I know to be founded in truth.

It is a clear truth that those who every day barter away other men's liberty will soon care little for their own.

The only principles of public conduct that are worthy of a gentleman or a man are to sacrifice estate, ease, health, and applause, and even life, to the sacred calls of his country.

There can be no prescription old enough to supersede the Law of Nature and the grant of God Almighty, who has given to all men a natural right to be free, and they have it ordinarily in their power to make themselves so, if they please.

I will to my dying day oppose with all the powers and faculties God has given me, all such instruments of slavery on the one hand, and villainy on the other, as this writ of assistance is.

The people's safety is the law of God.

I pray God I may never be brought to the melancholy trial, but if ever I should, it will be then known how far I can reduce to practice, principles, which I know to be founded in truth.

MAY it please your Honors: I was desired by one of the court to look into the books, and consider the question now before them concerning Writs of Assistance.

The only principles of public conduct that are worthy of a gentleman or a man are to sacrifice estate, ease, health, and applause, and even life, to the sacred calls of his country.

Let the consequences be what they will, I am determined to proceed.

But I think I can sincerely declare that I cheerfully submit myself to every odious name for conscience' sake; and from my soul I despise all those whose guilt, malice, or folly has made them my foes.

I do not say that, when brought to the test, I shall be invincible.

These manly sentiments, in private life, make the good citizen; in public life, the patriot and the hero.

These manly sentiments, in private life, make good citizens; in public life, the patriot and the hero.

Taxation without representation is tyranny.

My dear sister, I hope, when God Almighty in his righteous providence shall take me out of time into eternity, that it will be by a flash of lightning.

A man's house is his castle.