“Oppression and tyranny are the worse companions for the Hereafter.”
Nahj al-Balagha
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Ali124
cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad 601–661Related quotes
Husayn ibn Ali (626–680) The grandson of Muhammad and the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib
Biharul Anwar, Vol. 45, P. 51
General Quotes
“The tyranny of Mrs. Grundy is worse than any other tyranny we suffer under.”
Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) English philosopher, biologist, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist
On Manners and Fashion
Essays on Education (1861)
“Tyranny doesn’t move the people unless it was accompanied with complains from oppression”
Ali Al-Wardi (1913–1995) Iraqi sociologist
“Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression.”
Malcolm X (1925–1965) American human rights activist
Source: Malcolm X Speaks (1965), p. 158
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) 3rd President of the United States of America
Letter to Éleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours (24 April 1816)
1810s
John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton (1834–1902) British politician and historian
The History of Freedom in Antiquity (1877)
Context: It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority. For there is a reserve of latent power in the masses which, if it is called into play, the minority can seldom resist. But from the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, no refuge but treason.
William James (1842–1910) American philosopher, psychologist, and pragmatist
Source: 1890s, The Principles of Psychology (1890), Ch. 4
James Madison (1751–1836) 4th president of the United States (1809 to 1817)
Speech, Constitutional Convention (29 June 1787), from Max Farrand's Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, Vol. I http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llfr&fileName=001/llfr001.db&recNum=494&itemLink=D?hlaw:5:./temp/~ammem_kmli::%230010495&linkText=1 (1911), p. 465 <br class="br">1780s <br class="br">Context: In time of actual war, great discretionary powers are constantly given to the Executive Magistrate. Constant apprehension of War, has the same tendency to render the head too large for the body. A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty. The means of defence against foreign danger have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. Among the Romans it was a standing maxim to excite a war, whenever a revolt was apprehended. Throughout all Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people.