"The dearest ambition of a slave is not liberty,
but to have a slave of his own."
by:
Sir Richard Francis Burton
(1821-1890) English explorer, linguist, author, and soldier
Rating:
Categories:
 
Bookmark and Share  
Reader comments about this quote:
that is the stupidest thing i have ever heard. truly.
 -- ethan koopmann, sandpoint     
    		•  
    think for just 5 minutes you were a slave abroad and about to be sold and also you are called as "cargo" in La Amistad.I bet you will understand what liberty is
     -- mehtap, izmir     
    		•  
    that is so sweet i mean if you were a slave i bet you would want to make your master a slave for you. it is great.
     -- Tipsy, Nooks, Grand Marias     
    		•  
    Differant people have differant personalities and drives. One slave set free might deisre revenge. Another may feel the sweetness of his new found freedom and never wish such a thing as slavery on his worst enemy
     -- JoW, Utah     
    		•  
    Differant people have differant personalities and drives. One slave set free might deisre revenge. Another may feel the sweetness of his new found freedom and never wish such a thing as slavery on his worst enemy
     -- JoW, Utah     
    		•  
     -- Anonymous      
    no, not really, you sir are wrong
     -- notrub drahcir, ris     
    		•  
    very true
     -- Anonymous     
  • 1
    		•  
    In the context of the modern state, no truth is more obvious. For when a special interest seeks to influence lawmakers or the law, it is not just to free themselves, or even to free themselves at all, but, whether they realize it or not, to take away someone else's liberty.
     -- Henry Moore, Billings, Montana     
  • 3
    		•  
    Numerically, far more accurate than not. Some very good comments here. In the heart of the freeman, whether or not his activities were curtailed as would define a slave's condition, the statement is inaccurate. With the vast majority, it is a "What's In It For Me" the statement is very accurate. Amerika is today a giant slave's camp. The slaves, at other slave's expense, are graveling to get their master's next hand out (for example, the more licenses the slave can acquire, the slave claims to be more free) while not caring who they steal from. Social Security is a great example of the quote. The slave puts up with the theft from the fruits of his labors for the hopes he will be around long enough to enjoy his ambitions; that being, enjoying the stolen booty of more slaves. Such other slaves now supporting him. The slave says the master owes it to him because the master took his money for the slaves later use (which is an outright lie, the slave would rather believe the lie than face the truth - never asking what happened to his money or caring where the new money will come from) The retired slave doesn't want liberty, he only wants his own slaves to steal from so he doesn't have to work anymore (the slave's labored fruits long since spent).
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
  • 3
    		•  
    Well said Mike, contemplating the quote I'm reminded of Frederic Bastiat's "The Law" and the concept of legal plunder. The slave makes a servant of his neighbor by hiring a politician to steal the fruits of his neighbors productivity.
    I think the quote captures that truth.
     -- Mike, Pleasant Hill     
  • 3
    		•  
    Both Mikes said it well.
     -- jim k, austin tx     
    		•  
    Burton, A Sufi, unabashed imperialist, who practiced scientific racism. Thinking the white race to be superior. He would fall well into Hitler's line of thinking. He spending so much time in the middle east had seen the slave trade first hand throughout Africa and many countries that still practice slavery openly. Not as we do here under the guise of democratic socialism. He was known as an arrogant sexual pervert. And England made him a Knight, go figure ! He also a publisher of pornography. Kama Sutra. A book of garbage. As with Hitler, Burton antagonized the Jews and sided with Islam, he being a Sufi Islamist.
     -- Ron w13, Or     
    		•  
    In my college fraternity, the pledges that got hazed the most ended up hazing new pledges the most once they were brothers. When a class has been oppressed, long and hard, sometimes they end up doing the same thing. Look at Israel right now -- in the process of trying to create a Jewish state free from persecution, the native Palestinians have been treated as badly as the Nazis treated the Jews. Black mob violence is at all time highs in the US. The US bombs Arab countries indiscriminately, and now the Muslims are more committed than ever to their liberty and our destruction. Hypocrisy abounds.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
  • 1
    		•  
    Another spin on my previous example is expectation – i.e., “If I have to do it, you have to do it too” – a sergeant at arms forcing other slaves to submit to their master. The dearest ambition of a slave (the slave being he who genuflects in obedience to the god masters’ theocracy = compelled compliance, government license, victimless crimes, larceny with impunity {2nd plank of the communist manifesto, Social Security, government confiscations, etc.}, non-recognition of inalienable rights and a perfected allodium, etc.) expects / demands others to obey in totality, the god masters that they obey.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
  • 1
    		•  
     
    Rate this quote!
    How many stars?
    0
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
     
    What do YOU think?
    Your name:
    		 Your town:
        CLICK JUST ONCE!

    Today's Quotes
    More Quotations
    Most Popular
    Recent Comments
    Get a Quote-A-Day! Free!
    Liberty Quotes sent to your mail box.
    RSS Subscribe
    Quotes & Quotations - Send This Quote to a Friend

    © 1998-2024 Liberty-Tree.ca