40 great Simon Bolivar quotes you need to know

We present you 40 great Simon Bolivar quotes that will help you to better understand the personality of the Liberator of today’s modern countries of South America:

1. “A state too expensive in itself, or by virtue of its dependencies, ultimately falls into decay; its free government is transformed into a tyranny; it disregards the principles which it should preserve, and finally degenerates into despotism. The distinguishing characteristic of small republics is stability: the character of large republics is mutability.” – Simon Bolivar
2. “A people that loves freedom will in the end be free.”- Simon Bolivar
3. “The Ignorance the people live in leads them to commit mistakes against their own happiness”- Simon Bolivar
4. “It is harder to maintain the balance of freedom than it is to endure the weight of tyranny.”- Simon Bolivar
5. “Legislators could certainly do with a school of morals.”- Simon Bolivar
6. “Morals and lights are our first necessities.” – Simon Bolivar
   
7. “The art of victory is learned in defeat.” – Simon Bolivar
8. “The freedom of the New World is the hope of the Universe.” – Simon Bolivar
9. “To do something right it must be done twice. The first time instructs the second.” – Simon Bolivar
10. “When mankind was in its infancy, steeped in uncertainty, ignorance, and error, was it possible to foresee what system it would adopt for preservation.” – Simon Bolivar
11. “Damn it, how will I ever get out of this labyrinth” – Simon Bolivar
12. “Our hatred knows no bounds, and the war shall be to the death.” – Simon Bolivar
13. “If Nature is against us, we shall fight Nature and make it obey.” – Simon Bolivar
14. “The continuation of authority has frequently proved the undoing of democratic governments. Repeated elections are essential to the system of popular governments because there is nothing so dangerous as to suffer power to be vested for a long time in one citizen. The people become accustomed to obeying him, and he becomes accustomed to commanding, hence the origin of usurpation and tyranny.” – Simon Bolivar
15. “God grants victory to perseverance.” – Simon Bolivar
    
16. “War lives on despotism and is not waged with God’s love.” – Simon Bolivar
    
17. “Among the popular and representative systems of government I do not approve of the federal system: it is too perfect; and it requires virtues and political talents much superior to our own.” – Simon Bolivar
18. “Flee the country where a lone man holds all power: It is a nation of slaves.” – Simon Bolivar
19. “Colombians! My last wish is for the happiness of the patria. If my death contributes to the end of partisanship and the consolidation of the union, I shall be lowered in peace into my grave.” – Simon Bolivar
20. “Is it conceivable that a newly emancipated people can soar to the heights of liberty, and, unlike Icarus, neither have its wings melt nor fall into an abyss? Such a marvel is inconceivable and without precedent. There is no reasonable probability to bolster our hopes.” – Simon Bolivar
21. “It is harder to release a nation from servitude than to enslave a free nation.” – Simon Bolivar
22. “Slavery is the offspring of darkness.” – Simon Bolivar
23. “The three greatest fools of History have been Jesus Christ, Don Quixote . . . and me!” – Simon Bolivar
24. “When tyranny becomes law, rebellion is a right.” – Simon Bolivar
25. “The first duty of a government is to give education to the people.” – Simon Bolivar
    
26. The United States appear to be destined by Providence to plague America with misery in the name of liberty” – Simon Bolivar
27. “An ignorant people is the blind instrument of its own destruction.” – Simon Bolivar
28. “Nations will march towards the apex of their greatness at the same pace as their education. Nations will soar if their education soars; they will regress if it regresses. Nations will fall and sink in darkness if education is corrupted or completely abandoned.” – Simon Bolivar
    
29. “In the unity of our nations rests the glorious future of our peoples.” – Simon Bolivar
30. “The United States appear to be destined by Providence to plague America with misery in the name of liberty.” – Simon Bolivar
31. “Do not compare your material forces with those of the enemy. Spirit cannot be compared with the matter. You are human beings, they are beasts. You are free, they are slaves.” – Simon Bolivar
32. “Let the entire system of government be strengthened, and let the balance of power be drawn up in such a manner that it will be permanent and incapable of decay because of its own tenuity.” – Simon Bolivar
33. “All who have served the Revolution have ploughed the sea” – Simon Bolivar
    
34. “Republican democracy is overperfect and demands political virtues and talents far superior to our own.” – Simon Bolivar
35. “Do not adopt the best system of government, but the one most likely to succeed.” – Simon Bolivar
    
36. “Among the popular and representative systems of government I do not approve of the federal system: it is too perfect, and it requires virtues and political talents much superior to our own.” – Simon Bolivar
37. “I swear to God, I swear by my parents and swear by my honor that I will not rest until I have liberated my country.” – Simon Bolivar
38. “Freedom is the only objective worthy of the sacrifice of the life of men” – Simon Bolivar
39. “A being without studies is an incomplete being.” – Simon Bolivar
40. “We must use reason rather than force.” – Simon Bolivar
    

Simon Bolivar’s importance – summary

Simon Bolívar is, without a doubt, the most important historical figure that Latin America has produced, to the point where almost all political and social movements have claimed him as a forerunner or founder. Each epoch and ideological current recreated Bolivar according to their own goals.

The Liberator born in Caracas at the end of the 18th century represented the central figure for the South American independence and came to rule almost half of the continent.

This struggle led him to lead the independence processes in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Venezuela, in addition to inspiring other revolutionary movements on the continent.

Simón Bolívar’s dream was to represent the initiative to unite the whole of America into one great nation.

Bolivar became the leader of the Venezuelan Creoles because he had money, but also great intellectual abilities.

After a series of advances and setbacks in the independence of Venezuela and Colombia, Bolivar was the winner.

At one point, he governed what are now five countries (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia), with a project of integration and unity whose legacy, unfortunately, didn’t survive.