Wilfrid Laurier Quotes & Sayings

Whether splendidly isolated or dangerously isolated, I will not now debate; but for my part, I think splendidly isolated, because the isolation of England comes from her superiority. — Wilfrid Laurier

Fraternity without absorption, union without fusion. — Wilfrid Laurier

Let them look to the past, but let them also look to the future; let them look to the land of their ancestors, but let them look also to the land of their children. — Wilfrid Laurier

Confederation is a compact, made originally by four provinces but adhered to by all the nine provinces who have entered it, and I submit to the judgment of this house and to the best consideration of its members, that this compact should not be lightly altered. — Wilfrid Laurier

I claim for Canada this, that in future Canada shall be at liberty to act or not act, to interfere or not interfere, to do just as she pleases, and that she shall reserve to herself the right to judge whether or not there is cause for her to act. — Wilfrid Laurier

We are here a nation, composed of the most heterogeneous elements-Protestants and Catholics, English, French, German, Irish, Scotch, every one, let it be remembered, with his traditions, with his prejudices. In each of these conflicting antagonistic elements, however, there is a common spot of patriotism, and the only true policy is that which reaches that common patriotism and makes it vibrate in all toward common ends and common aspirations. — Wilfrid Laurier

Why, so soon as French Canadians, who are in a minority in this House and in the country, were to organise as a political party, they would compel the majority to organise as a political party, and the result must be disastrous to themselves. — Wilfrid Laurier

Quebec does not have Opinions, but only sentiments. — Wilfrid Laurier

It would be simply suicidal to French Canadians to form a party by themselves. — Wilfrid Laurier

It is a sound principle of finance, and a still sounder principle of government, that those who have the duty of expending the revenue of a country should also be saddled with the responsibility of levying and providing it. — Wilfrid Laurier

We French-Canadians belong to one country, Canada: Canada is for us the whole world: but the English-Canadians have two countries, one here and one across the sea. — Wilfrid Laurier

Canada is free and freedom is its nationality, — Wilfrid Laurier

The twentieth century belongs to Canada. — Wilfrid Laurier

This country must be governed, and can be governed, simply on questions of policy and administration and the French Canadians who have had any part in this movement have never had any other intention but to organise upon those party distinctions and upon no other. — Wilfrid Laurier

I am a subject of the British Crown, but whenever I have to choose between the interests of England and Canada it is manifest to me that the interests of my country are identical with those of the United States of America. — Wilfrid Laurier

I would advise you to write, my dear friend, because with your active nature, solitude is simply intolerable to you, and after some time your solitude would become perhaps attractive if you were to people it with creatures of your own fancy. — Wilfrid Laurier

I have been represented as a Protestant minister; there was not one of the canvassers of the honourable gentlemen opposite that did not represent to the people that I was not a Minister of the Crown, but that I was a Protestant minister. — Wilfrid Laurier

Let your convictions be always calm, serene and superior to the inevitable trials of life. - Sir Wilfrid Laurier — Wilfrid Laurier

The Divinity could be invoked as well in the English language as in the French. — Wilfrid Laurier

He is ready, if the occasion presents itself, to throw the whole English population in the St. Lawrence. — Wilfrid Laurier

What is hateful is not rebellion but the despotism which induces the rebellion; what is hateful are not rebels but the men, who, having the enjoyment of power, do not discharge the duties of power; they are the men who, having the power to redress wrongs, refuse to listen to the petitioners that are sent to them; they are the men who, when they are asked for a loaf, give a stone. — Wilfrid Laurier

The Englishman respects your opinions, but he never thinks of your feelings. — Wilfrid Laurier

Canada first, Canada last, Canada always. — Wilfrid Laurier

For us, sons of France, political sentiment is a passion; while, for the Englishmen, politics are a question of business. — Wilfrid Laurier

Two races share today the soil of Canada. These people had not always been friends. But I hasten to say it. There is no longer any family here but the human family. It matters not the language people speak, or the altars at which they kneel. — Wilfrid Laurier

A colony, yet a nation - words never before in the history of the world associated together. — Wilfrid Laurier

I am quite prepared, if we can do it without any disrespect to the Crown of England, to bring our titles to the marketplace and make a bonfire of them. — Wilfrid Laurier

If I were not French I would choose to be - Scotch. — Wilfrid Laurier

I am not here to parade my religious sentiments, but I declare I have too much respect for the faith in which I was born to ever use it as the basis of a political organization. — Wilfrid Laurier