The struggle to do away with injustice; the battle-cries of the new army which is gathering for the deliverance of humanity.
(Scotland's most popular poet, 1759-1796)
Is there, for honest poverty, That hangs his head, and a' that? The coward slave, we pass him by, We daur be puir, for a' that! For a' that, and a' that, Our toils obscure and a' that, The rank is but the guinea's stamp-- The man's the gowd for a' that.
What though on hamely fare we dine, Wear hoddin-grey and a' that; Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine-- A man's a man for a' that. For a' that, and a' that, Their tinsel show and a' that, The honest man, though e'er sae puir, Is king o' men for a' that.
Ye see yon birkie, ca'ed a lord, Wha struts, and stares, and a' that; Though hundreds worship at his word, He's but a coof for a' that: For a' that, and a' that, His riband, star, and a' that; The man of independent mind, He looks and laughs at a' that.
A king can make a belted knight, A marquis, duke, and a' that; But an honest man's aboon his might, Gude faith, he maunna fa' that! For a' that, and a' that, Their dignities and a' that, The pith o' sense and pride o' worth Are higher rank than a' that.
Then let us pray that come it may, (As come it will for a' that) That sense and worth, o'er a' the earth, May bear the gree and a' that. For a' that, and a' that-- It's coming yet, for a' that, When man to man, the warld o'er, Shall brithers be for a' that.
(President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence, 1743-1826)
All eyes are opened or opening to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God.
(British statesman and orator, 1729-1797; defended the American colonies in Parliament during the Revolutionary War)
Ask of politicians the ends for which laws were originally designed, and they will answer that the laws were designed as a protection for the poor and weak, against the oppression of the rich and powerful. But surely no pretence can be so ridiculous; a man might as well tell me he has taken off my load, because he has changed the burden. If the poor man is not able to support his suit according to the vexatious and expensive manner established in civilized countries, has not the rich as great an advantage over him as the strong has over the weak in a state of nature?...