Henry Knox quotes

Henry Knox was an American general and the first Secretary of War of the United States. Known for his crucial role in transporting artillery during the Revolutionary War, he was a key figure in the Continental Army's success. He laid the foundations for the nation’s military and helped shape the early United States defense policies. Here are 17 of his quotes:

Something is wanting, and something must be done, or we shall be involved in all the horror of failure, and civil war without a prospect of its termination.

Henry Knox

The powers of Congress are totally inadequate to preserve the balance between the respective States, and oblige them to do those things which are essential for their own welfare or for the general good.

Henry Knox

That taxes may be the ostensible cause is true, but that they are the true cause is as far remote from truth as light from darkness.

Henry Knox

It is a melancholy reflection that our modes of population have been more destructive to the Indian natives than the conduct of the conquerors of Mexico and Peru. The evidence of this is the utter extirpation of nearly all the Indians in the most populous parts of the Union. A future historian may mark the causes of this destruction of the human race in sable colors. Although the present Government of the United States cannot with propriety be involved in the oppropbrium, yet it seems necessary however, in order to render their attention upon this subject strongly characteristic of their justice, that some powerful attempts should be made to tranquilize the frontiers, particularly those south of the Ohio.

Henry Knox

It is not easy to conceive the difficulties we have had.

Henry Knox

I most earnestly beg you to spare no trouble or necessary expense in getting these.

Henry Knox

We want great men who, when fortune frowns, will not be discouraged.

Henry Knox

We shall cut no small figure through the country with our cannon.

Henry Knox

Trusting that...we shall have a fine fall of snow.... I hope in sixteen or seventeen days to be able to present to your Excellency a noble train of artillery.

Henry Knox

Every friend to the liberty of his country is bound to reflect, and step forward to prevent the dreadful consequences which shall result from a government of events.

Henry Knox

We imagined that the mildness of our government and the wishes of the people were so correspondent that we were not as other nations, requiring brutal force to support the laws.

Henry Knox

Having proceeded to this length, for which they are now ripe, we shall have a formidable rebellion against reason, the principle of all government, and against the very name of liberty.

Henry Knox

Men at a distance, who have admired our systems of government unfounded in nature, are apt to accuse the rulers, and say that taxes have been assessed too high and collected too rigidly.

Henry Knox

We have arrived at that point of time in which we are forced to see our own humiliation, as a nation, and that a progression in this line cannot be a productive of happiness, private or public.

Henry Knox

They wish for a general government of unity, as they see that the local legislatures must naturally and necessarily tend to retard the general government.

Henry Knox