Quotes by Richard Cobden
1804 – 1865
Richard Cobden (1804-1865) was a member of the British Parliament and an advocate of free trade, a non-interventionist foreign policy, peace, and parliamentary reform. He is best remembered for his activity on behalf of the Anti-Corn Law League which helped reduce British tariffs in 1846 and for negotiating the Anglo-French trade agreement of 1860.
Bio
See the Liberty Matters online discussion on Richard Cobden: Ideas and Strategies in Organizing the Free-Trade Movement in Britain
Class
Richard Cobden outlines his strategy of encouraging more people to acquire land and thus the right to vote in order to defeat the “landed oligarchy” who ruled England and imposed the “iniquity” of the Corn Laws (1845)
War & Peace
Cobden urges the British Parliament not to be the “Don Quixotes of Europe” using military force to right the wrongs of the world (1854)
Parties & Elections
Cobden reminds the Liberals in Parliament that the motto of their party is “Economy, Retrenchment, and Reform!” (1862)
Free Trade
Richard Cobden’s “I have a dream” speech about a world in which free trade is the governing principle (1846)
War & Peace
Cobden on the principle of non-intervention in the affairs of other countries (1859)
War & Peace
Cobden on the complicity of the British people in supporting war (1852)
War & Peace
Cobden argues that the British Empire will inevitably suffer retribution for its violence and injustice (1853)
War & Peace
The 10th Day of Christmas: Richard Cobden on public opinion and peace on earth (c. 1865)
Free Trade
Cobden on the folly of using government force to “protect commerce” (1836)
Free Trade
Richard Cobden on how free trade would unite mankind in the bonds of peace (1850)