"The Declaration of Independence states that the Creator gave man the right to liberty. It seems man can realize that liberty only if he does not forget the One who endowed him with it."

12 likes

Source: Vaclav Havel's Liberty Medal acceptance speech at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, www.aps.org. October 4, 1994.

About the author

Vaclav Havel

Politician, Playwright

Vaclav Havel was a Czech playwright, dissident, and the first President of the Czech Republic, known for his advocacy of democracy and human rights.

All quotes by Vaclav Havel →

Same author

More quotes by Vaclav Havel

See all →
Vaclav Havel Politician, Playwright

"Human rights are universal and indivisible. Human freedom is also indivisible: if it is denied to anyone in the world, it is therefore denied, indirectly, to all people. This is why we cannot remain silent in the face of evil or violence; silence merely encourages them."

Read quote
Vaclav Havel Politician, Playwright

"I am not an optimist, because I am not sure that everything ends well. Nor am I a pessimist, because I am not sure that everything ends badly. I just carry hope in my heart. Hope is the feeling that life and work have a meaning. You either have it or you don't, regardless of the state of the world that surrounds you. Life without hope is an empty, boring, and useless life. I cannot imagine that I could strive for something if I did not carry hope in me. I am thankful to God for this gift. It is as big as life itself."

Read quote
Vaclav Havel Politician, Playwright

"Genuine politics -- even politics worthy of the name -- the only politics I am willing to devote myself to -- is simply a matter of serving those around us: serving the community and serving those who will come after us. Its deepest roots are moral because it is a responsibility expressed through action, to and for the whole."

Read quote
Vaclav Havel Politician, Playwright

"Modern man must descend the spiral of his own absurdity to the lowest point; only then can he look beyond it. It is obviously impossible to get around it, jump over it, or simply avoid it."

Read quote