As we approach the Fourth of July, Americans from coast to coast prepare to celebrate Independence Day, a holiday that marks the birth of the United States and honors the spirit of freedom and unity. It’s a day filled with community parades, spectacular fireworks, family gatherings, and of course, festive parties.
Here are some of the most inspiring quotes and heartfelt toasts to add a touch of patriotism to your celebrations. These words are curated from presidents, comedians, and philosophers that truly capture the essence of this special day. There are also some fun and quirky toasts for those who enjoy adding a dash of humor to their celebrations.
Table of Contents
1. The Symphony of Unity
“America is a tune. It must be sung together.” — Gerald Stanley Lee
2. Tracing Our Roots
“Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt
3. The Power of Hope
“In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.” — Barack Obama
4. The Pursuit of Rights
“You never completely have your rights, one person, until you all have your rights.” — Marsha P. Johnson
5. The Call to Service
“Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” — John F. Kennedy
6. The Potential of Freedom
“Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.” — Albert Camus
7. The Breath of Liberty
“Liberty is the breath of life to nations.” — George Bernard Shaw
8. The Promise of Tomorrow
“That’s the promise of tomorrow — that in the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it.” — Barack Obama
9. The Dream of America
“Only in America / Where we dream in red, white and blue / Only in America / Where we dream as big as we want to.” — Brooks & Dunn, “Only in America”
10. The Foundations of a Great Nation
“Nothing but harmony, honesty, industry, and frugality are necessary to make us a great and happy people.” — George Washington
11. The History of Liberty
“Liberty has never come from the government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of resistance.” — Woodrow Wilson
12. The Resilience of Liberty
“Liberty has been planted here; and the more it is attacked, the more it grows and flourishes.” — Samuel Sherwood
13. The True Meaning of Heroism
“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” — Arthur Ashe
14. The Explosive Festivity
“It’s Fourth of July weekend, or as I call it, exploding Christmas.” — Stephen Colbert
15. The Boldness of Freedom
“Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” — George Orwell
16. The American Patience
“Americans will put up with anything, provided it doesn’t block traffic.” — Dan Rather
17. The American Family
“America’s a family. We all yell at each other. It all works out.” — Louis C. K.
18. The Historical Mash-Up
“Today is the 4th of July, when we honor the day that Uncle Sam chopped down Benedict Arnold at the Alamo. Happy hot dogs!” — Stephen Colbert
19. The Thrill of Independence Day
“Let’s kick the tires and light the fires, big daddy!” — Harry Connick Jr. as Captain Jimmy Wilder, “Independence Day”
20. The Alternative British Perspective
“Just found out that every Fourth of July, the British celebrate, ‘We Dodged a Bullet Day.’” — Conan O’Brien
21. The Pyrotechnic Poetics
“We shall go wild with fireworks … And they will plunge into the sky and shatter the darkness.” — Natsuki Takaya
22. The Unity of the Nation
“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, One Nation, evermore!” — Oliver Wendell Holmes
23. The Responsibility of Freedom
“May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.” — Peter Marshall
24. The Ultimate Sacrifice
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” — Nathan Hale
25. The Definition of Freedom
“Freedom (n.): To ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing.” — Ayn Rand, “The Fountainhead”
26. The Land of Opportunity
“America is another name for opportunity.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
27. The Change at the Dinner Table
“All great change in America begins at the dinner table.” — Ronald Reagan
28. The Home of the Brave
“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” — Elmer Davis
29. The Path to Freedom
“Who ever walked behind anyone to freedom? If we can’t go hand in hand, I don’t want to go.” — Hazel Scott
30. The Unconquerable Spirit
“It is impossible to conquer a nation determined to be free!” — Thomas Paine
31. The Goose-Feather Pen
“Here’s to the memory
Of the man
That raised the corn
That fed the goose
That bore the quill
That made the pen
That wrote the Declaration of Independence”
32. The Immortal Sentiment
“In the immortal words of Daniel Webster, “It is my loving sentiment, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying sentiment – Independence now and Independence forever!”
33. The Humorous Comparison
“To the Fourth of July–for like oyster soup, it cannot be enjoyed without crackers.”
34. Toasting to the Nation’s Birthday
“Here’s to our country’s birthday”
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