Bartolome de Las Casas Quotes
Bartolome de Las Casas was a Spanish Dominican friar, bishop of Chiapas in New Spain, and the most outspoken sixteenth-century defender of the rights of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. After participating as an encomendero in the early conquest of Hispaniola and Cuba, he underwent a profound conversion in 1514 and devoted the rest of his long life to documenting and opposing Spanish abuses, advocating for indigenous rights at the Spanish court, and developing a sustained theological argument for the full humanity and freedom of the peoples of the New World. The quotes below are attributed to Bartolome de Las Casas, organized by topic.
Bartolome de Las Casas on God
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Attributed to Bartolome de Las Casas:
“Christ did not come to enslave but to set free.”
Bartolome de Las Casas on Justice
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Attributed to Bartolome de Las Casas:
“All the peoples of the world are human.”
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Attributed to Bartolome de Las Casas:
“What right have we to subjugate those who have done us no wrong?”
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Attributed to Bartolome de Las Casas:
“Justice does not depend on the strength of the conqueror.”
Bartolome de Las Casas on Politics
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Attributed to Bartolome de Las Casas:
“The pursuit of gold has covered the New World with blood.”