Toussaint L’Ouverture

“The slopes to treachery from the dizzy heights of revolutionary leadership are always so steep and slippery that leaders, however well intentioned, can never build their fences too high.”

―Toussaint L’Ouverture 

 

“There is no irrevocable liberty for the former slaves except that which the Spanish monarch would grant them because, as a legitimate king, he alone has the right to legitimate that freedom” We are free by natural right. It could only be kings . . . who dare claim the right to reduce into servitude men made like them and whom nature has made free.”

― Toussaint L’Ouverture, The Haitian Revolution

 

“I was born a slave, but nature gave me a soul of a free man…”’

― Toussaint L’Ouverture, The Haitian Revolution

 

“In overthrowing me, you have done no more than cut down the trunk of the tree of the black liberty in St-Domingue-it will spring back form the roots, for they are numerous and deep.”

― Toussaint L’Ouverture, The Haitian Revolution

 

“Whatever defamation of character my enemies are spreading about me, I do not feel the need to justify myself toward them. While discretion obliges me to remain silent, my duty compels me to prevent them from doing any more harm.

― Toussaint L’Ouverture

 

Unite; for combination is stronger than witchcraft.

“In overthrowing me, you have done no more than cut down the tree trunk of the Black Liberty in St. Domingue it will spring back from the roots, for they are numerous and deep.”

― Toussaint L’Ouverture

 

“I am faithfully devoted to the Republic but will not serve it at my conscious and my honor.”

― Toussaint L’Ouverture

 

“Avoid Sloth the mother of all vices.”

― Toussaint L’Ouverture

 

“The Spanish offered me their protection and liberty to those who would fight for the Kings. I accepted their offers, seeing myself entirely abandoned by my brethren the French.”

― Toussaint L’Ouverture

 

“I have undertaken vengeance. I want Liberty and Equality to reign in Saint Domingue. I have work to bring them into existence. Unite yourselves to us, brothers and fight for the same cause.”

― Toussaint L’Ouverture

 

“I have taken my flight in the regions of eagles. When I aalight, it must be at a rock and that rock must be a constitutional government of which I shall be the head so long as I shall be among men.”

― Toussaint L’Ouverture