Foreign slaves, as soon as they come within the limits of Gaul, that moment they are free. [Lat., Servi peregrini, ut primum Galliae fines penetraverint eodem momento liberi sunt.]

The study of history is the beginning of political wisdom

An unbroken horse erects his mane, paws the ground and starts back impetuously at the sight of the bridle; while one which is properly trained suffers patiently even whip and spur: so savage man will not bend his neck to the yoke to which civilised man submits without a murmur, but prefers the most turbulent state of liberty to the most peaceful slavery. We cannot therefore, from the servility of nations already enslaved, judge of the natural disposition of mankind for or against slavery; we should go by the prodigious efforts of every free people to save itself from oppression. I know that the former are for ever holding forth in praise of the tranquillity they enjoy in their chains, and that they call a state of wretched servitude a state of peace: miserrimam servitutem pacem appellant. But when I observe the latter sacrificing pleasure, peace, wealth, power and life itself to the preservation of that one treasure, which is so disdained by those who have lost it; when I see free-born animals dash their brains out against the bars of their cage, from an innate impatience of captivity; when I behold numbers of naked savages, that despise European pleasures, braving hunger, fire, the sword and death, to preserve nothing but their independence, I feel that it is not for slaves to argue about liberty.

I prefer liberty with danger than peace with slavery

Slavery was something people in the country thought they needed. America was more an agricultural country, and somebody had to work the farms. They tried the Indians, but they knew the country and ran. Indentured slaves were white and could blend in. Do you think black people stood out, that they looked different?

Slavery has not been abolished, it has been sanitized