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Rich and great people can take care of themselves; but the poor and…

Quote byJohn Bright · 1811–1889

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Speech at his Durham election (July 1843), quoted in G. M. Trevelyan, The Life of John Bright (1913), p. 100.

English (original)

Rich and great people can take care of themselves; but the poor and defenceless—the men with small cottages and large families—the men who must work six days every week if they are to live in anything like comfort for a week,—these men want defenders; they want men to maintain their position in Parliament; they want men who will protest against any infringement of their rights.

— John Bright

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