Peter Stuyvesant quotes

Peter Stuyvesant was a Dutch colonial administrator, best known as the last Director-General of New Netherland. His leadership witnessed significant expansion and fortification of the colony, including what later became New York City. He remains a prominent historical figure in the early history of the United States. Here are 14 of his quotes:

I value the blood of one Christian more than that of a hundred Indians.

Peter Stuyvesant

We pray that the deceitful race - such hateful enemies and blasphemers of the name of Christ - be not allowed to further infect and trouble this new colony.

Peter Stuyvesant

I am sustained by the tranquility of an upright and loyal heart.

Peter Stuyvesant

Your patience would fail you if I should continue to relate all the disrespectful speeches and treatment which your servants have been obliged to listen to and patiently to bear.

Peter Stuyvesant

I shall govern you as a father his children.

Peter Stuyvesant

We derive our authority from God and the West India Company, not from the pleasure of a few ignorant subjects.

Peter Stuyvesant

Praise the Lord, O England's Jerusalem: and Netherland's Zion, praise ye the Lord! He hath secured your gates, and blessed your possessions with peace, even here, where the threatened torch of war was lighted.

Peter Stuyvesant

When Stuyvesant clamped down on the excessive drinking in the town, or forbade some of the more obviously pagan folk festivals, or tried to keep the town free of the foolish Quakers... did any of the merchants support him? Hardly any.

Peter Stuyvesant

Stuyvesant had learnt to rule wisely. Yet were the people grateful? Of course not. They resented his rule.

Peter Stuyvesant

Our little force will march on tomorrow or the day after.

Peter Stuyvesant

The attack did not succeed as well as I had hoped, no small impediment having been the loss of my right leg.

Peter Stuyvesant

The people are grown very wild and loose in their morals.

Peter Stuyvesant