William Lloyd Garrison Quotes

The problem in the world is the oppression of man by man; it this which threatens existence.

Most men today cannot conceive of a freedom that does not involve somebody's slavery.

I am from the class that has, in a sense, benefited from the status quo, but everyone still gets victimized.

Baby, black promoters oppressed me before white promoters ever got hold of me. Don't talk skin to me.

The more dependent you are, the more ignorant you must be, and that's how they want you.

Too often, systems of oppression turn those who are the targets of the oppression against one another.

The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other. Our children see this and learn to imitate it, for man is an imitative animal.

Whether the institution to be defended is slavery, political absolutism, or the absolutism of the head of a family, we are always expected to judge of it from its best instances; and we are presented with pictures of loving exercise of authority on one side, loving submission to it on the other

The convoluted wording of legalisms grew up around the necessity to hide from ourselves the violence we do to each other.

The story of our inferiority is an old dodge, as I have said; for wherever men oppress their fellows, wherever they enslave them, they will endeavor to find the needed apology for such enslavement and oppression in the character of the people oppressed and enslaved

Oppression thrives on distance - on not actually meeting or seeing the oppressed.

Different identity groups hold specific levels of power over others when their battles play out in the media. To wit: Black beats white. Gay beats white. Black beats gay.

Sometimes I think that a parody of democracy could be more dangerous than a blatant dictatorship, because that gives people an opportunity to avoid doing anything about it.

Aristocracy is always cruel.

Face it, the system is rigged, and it's rigged against us.

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.

Why is Slavery so much condemn'd and strove against in one Case, and so highly applauded and held so necessary and so sacred in another?

I think that children are acutely sensitive to injustice because they live in a world that is absolutely filled with injustice. They have very, very little power, and they are extremely aware of power relations.

The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places.

He who allows oppression shares the crime.

How many condemnations I have witnessed more criminal than the crime!

I can't discriminate? Oh, that's ripe, coming from a straight white man. What's the matter, baby doesn't feel like he belongs? Well why don't you try a place that was set up just for you? Like the world!

There's only one free person in this society, and he is white and male.

I confront the European elite's self-image as tolerant 'while under their noses women are living like slaves.

I am amazed at the facility with which some men follow in the wake of slavery.