The bill neither confers nor abridges the rights of anyone but simply declares that in civil rights there shall be equality among all classes of citizens and that all alike shall be subject to the same punishment.

Distinctions between citizens solely because of their ancestry are by their very nature odious to a free people whose institutions are founded upon the doctrine of equality.

The Nordic countries are leading the way on women's equality recognizing women as equal citizens rather than commodities for sale.

The mandate I have received and for which I will speak with heart and head to implement over the next seven years had its four pillars - an inclusive citizenship equality and participation and respect in a creative society creating an excellence in everything we Irish do.

The American economic political and social organization has given to its citizens the benefits of material prosperity political liberty and a wholesome natural equality and this achievement is a gain not only to Americans but to the world and to civilization.

Civilization is built on a number of ultimate principles... respect for human life the punishment of crimes against property and persons the equality of all good citizens before the law... or in a word justice.

The equality that we are all entitled to as citizens of this democracy can't be avoided by some religious dogma of a President who's is supposed to believe in the notion of separation of church and state. And he frankly doesn't.

States have the responsibility to create rules and conditions for growth and development and to channel the benefits to all citizens by providing education and making people able to participate in the economies and in decision-making.

We pay a price when we deprive children of the exposure to the values principles and education they need to make them good citizens.

Our citizens and those who have gone before us charted the broad outlines of where we need to go and they would envy our opportunity to translate those dreams into action. And I believe they will judge us very harshly should we fail to act.

My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little did I know that I would live in Malacanang Palace for 20 years and visit all the major palaces of mankind. And then also meet ordinary citizens and the leaders of superpowers.

I have argued for years that we do not have a health care system in America. We have a disease-management system - one that depends on ruinously expensive drugs and surgeries that treat health conditions after they manifest rather than giving our citizens simple diet lifestyle and therapeutic tools to keep them healthy.

If you think aficionados of a living Constitution want to bring you flexibility think again. You think the death penalty is a good idea? Persuade your fellow citizens to adopt it. You want a right to abortion? Persuade your fellow citizens and enact it. That's flexibility.

Policemen so cherish their status as keepers of the peace and protectors of the public that they have occasionally been known to beat to death those citizens or groups who question that status.

Crucial to understanding federalism in modern day America is the concept of mobility or 'the ability to vote with your feet.' If you don't support the death penalty and citizens packing a pistol - don't come to Texas. If you don't like medicinal marijuana and gay marriage don't move to California.

The criteria for serving one's country should be competence courage and willingness to serve. When we deny people the chance to serve because of their sexual orientation we deprive them of their rights of citizenship and we deprive our armed forces the service of willing and capable Americans.

If we're going to change the laws let's change them in ways which makes it easier to catch criminals and yet at the same time protect the Second Amendment rights of our law-abiding citizens.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world indeed it's the only thing that ever has.

We need to become good citizens in the global village instead of competing. What are we competing for - to drive more cars eat more steaks? That will destroy the world.

Treaties agreements and organizations to help settle disputes may be necessary but they often favor the interests of business over citizens.

The leverage and influence social media gives citizens are rapidly spreading into the business world.

Citizens thank you for all your birthday wishes. I am 88 years old today and still lucky to live in the greatest city in the world.

The U.S. states that allow for citizens' initiatives tend to have fewer laws and lower taxes than the ones that don't. But the beauty of the system is that it encourages the spread of best practice.

Half a century ago the amazing courage of Rosa Parks the visionary leadership of Martin Luther King and the inspirational actions of the civil rights movement led politicians to write equality into the law and make real the promise of America for all her citizens.