Famous Patrick Henry Quote 

"I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided,
and that is the lamp of experience.
I know of no way of judging the future but by the past."

by:
Patrick Henry
(1736-1799) US Founding Father
Date:
March 23, 1775
Source:
Speech on the Stamp Act, Virginia Convention
Categories:
 
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Reader comments about this quote:
 -- Anonymous 
This quote reminds me of the Bible verse that says "...You are the lamp to my feet and the light to my path..." The only thing I don't agree with is when Patrick Henry when he said that the lamp that guides him is experience. God should be the lamp that guides you and gives you experience.
 -- Megan, Conestoga		 
This is so true.
 -- Alan Moss, Atlanta, GA		 
I don't think Henry was trying to supplant the Bible verse; he was merely highlighting the value of experience over inexperience. There is no better way to judge the future than by the past, experience makes this possible.
 -- Bruce, Savannah, TN		 
Connotation is everything here. I believe the lamp of experience is a reference to his faith and his life. Let's give Patrick Henry his dap!
 -- MP, Victoria		 
These things somewhere are giving and saving someone's life, and critising is only killing the meaning and purpose these great writers intended.
 -- Joseph tee, pretoria		 
Well over 80% of the Constitution was a direct result of interpreting Biblical history. The same truth(s) was available in other historical data but Biblical history was used specifically because of the Patrick Heneries and other founders' familiarity. Today's destruction of the Constitution, freedom, liberty, rights, sovereignty, prosperity, etc. can also all be mapped through the illumination of history.
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
Patrick Henry is exactly right. I wish that our incoming president would pay attention to the past. He proposes a tax increase on businesses and a huge public works program. The public works stuff was implemented by Franklin Roosevelt in the '30s to end the depression which only made it worse. Our intrance into the war after December 7th,1941 ended the depression. As to tax increases, Obama should take a hint from the Chinese who are cutting taxes on businesses to spur edonomic growth and their business taxes are already lower than ours. Raising taxes on business people will drive down the economy lower than it is now.
 -- jim k, austin		 
Patrick Henry's knowledge was destroyed by the same street urchin reprresentatives and their minions who control us today! His writings have been expunged and little or no reference to him are available today. He was a true champion of "We The People." A populist of the first order, and I believe Dr. Ron Ernest Paul will be treated the same way Patrick Henry has been forgotten except for his "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech at the founding of our present Republic. He also was quoted as saying I smell a RAT!!! Too bad others did not heed his warning. The Articles of Confederation were destroyed for lack of knowledge on the part of our founders who tryed in vain to solve the so-called short comings of the "Articles." Nuf said...-whzh-
 -- William Henry Harris, Riverton Borough		 
Unfortunately we forget the past when judging the future - I think in this case he may have put his foot in it, as there are other lamps needed to light the path. Judging the future also needs understanding and wisdom, both of which are not necessarily the result of experience. He who thinks he knows the path into the future doesn't, but he he knows he doesn't does ( a play on an old Vedic prayer).
 -- RBESRQ		 
First off, its good to be back from a long hiatus. I am not too sure if I agree with MP. Connotation may be from his faith, but in no way was he stating that he is being guided by God. This quote is worth mulling over and over for its gravitation towards pragmatism which is a rarity these days, where absolute conservatism rules and liberty is at stake.
 -- RKA, Wasilla, AK		 
Not just my own experience of my past but of others' pasts as well.
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
A great insight my Mr. tee from Pretoria although our criticizm and comments are part of this site. Mr. tee as great as these men were they are not "gods" and just because they wrote things down does not mean that we and the people "whose lives are being saved" by these quotes cannot think for themselves and maybe even we can learn from each other (with the exception of Archer that is). I like RKA's tilt toward pragmatism, I think that is the essence of "the light under are feet". For the religious minded like Mike I have heard it said that "good religion is common sense" which is to say that good religion is pragmatic.
 -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas		 
"Religion"? Not Chistianity. Religion is the story of Man's search for God. Christianity is the story of God's search for man.(Ref.Holy Bible) RG
 -- Bob Gammon, Summerfield Fl.		 
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