Simon Bolivar
Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) was South American revolutionary leader called the Liberator of South America. He was general and statesman, born at Caracas; a man of good birth and liberal education; seized with the passion for freedom during a visit to Madrid and Paris, devoted himself to the cause of S. American independence.Venezuelan-born, raised an army in 1813 to fight the Spaniards, freed from the yoke of Spain Venezuela and New Grenada, which, in 1819, he erected into a republic under the name of Colombia.
In 1821, he became president of Colombia (consisting of modern-day Venezuela, Colombia, and New Granada), freed Ecuador (1822) and Peru (1824), achieved in 1824 the same for Upper Peru, henceforth called Bolivia, after his name.
He was named perpetual protector of upper Peru, retired from office in 1830 after facing dissension in 1829 when Venezuela separated from Colombia.
He was accused of aspiring to the Dictatorship, he abdicated, and was preparing to leave the country when he died of fever, with the sage reflection on his lips, "The presence of a soldier, however disinterested he may be, is always dangerous in a State that is new to freedom". He has been called the Washington of S. America.
Wisdom & Quotes
- 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.
- Recall to mind the nations which have shone most highly on the earth and you will be grieved to see that almost the entire world has been, and still is, a victim of bad government. You will find many systems of governing men, but all are calculated to oppress them; and if the habit of seeing the human race, led by shepherds of peoples, did not dull the horror of such a revolting sight, we would be astonished to see our social species grazing on the surface of the globe, even as lowly herds destined to feed their cruel drivers.
- Nature, in truth, endows us at birth with the instinctive desire for liberty; but whether because of negligence, or because of an inclination inherent in humanity, it remains still under the bonds imposed on it.
- The majority of men hold as a truth the humiliating principle that it is harder to maintain the balance of liberty than to endure the weight of tyranny.
- If nature is against us, we shall fight Nature and make it obey.
- Our hatred knows no bounds, and the war shall be to the death.
- March swiftly to revenge the dead, to give life to the dying, to free the oppressed, and to give liberty to all.
- A people that loves freedom will in the end be free.
- Slavery is the offspring of darkness.
- War lives on despotism and is not waged with God's love.
- I have ploughed the sea.
J H Leigh Hunt