"I will say that since our capture we have met with uniform kindness, and while in the penitentiary our relations with the officers have been cordially pleasant, and for their considerate and kind disposition we feel profoundly grateful."
About Cole Younger
Cole Younger — Life and Legacy
Cole Younger was a significant figure during the tumultuous times of the American Civil War and its aftermath. As a member of the James-Younger gang, he became notorious for his daring bank robberies and confrontations with law enforcement. Younger's worldview was shaped by his experiences of conflict and survival, leading him to articulate thoughts on freedom and resistance. He famously stated that 'the only way to be free is to fight for it,' which encapsulates his belief in the necessity of standing against oppression. This perspective not only highlights his personal struggles but also resonates with broader themes of autonomy and defiance. Younger's quotes reflect a complex understanding of rebellion, revealing how he viewed the fight for freedom as an inherent human right. His life as an outlaw was not merely about crime; it was also a response to the societal constraints of his time. By challenging the status quo, he embodied the spirit of resistance that many faced in the post-war era. Today, his insights continue to inspire discussions about the nature of freedom and the moral implications of rebellion, making his words relevant in modern contexts of social justice and personal autonomy.
Quote collection
Cole Younger quotes
7 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Joe Smith and Brigham Young laid out Independence, but very soon thereafter enough citizens of the county collected to drive them off, after several stubborn fights."
"The people of western Missouri are, in some respects, very peculiar. We will take Jackson county where I was born for instance. In that section the people seemed to be born fighters, the instinct being inherited from a long line of ancestors."
"I never, in all my life, had anything whatever to do with robbing any bank in the state of Missouri."
"I am aware that my name has been connected with all the bank robberies in the country; but positively I had nothing to do with any one of them. I look upon my life since the war as a blank, and will never say anything to make it appear otherwise."
"I have been wounded altogether twenty times; eleven of these wounds were received at Northfield."
"I occupy much of my time in theological studies for which I have a natural inclination."