Definition of Treason

Treason

The offense of attempting to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance, or of betraying the state into the hands of a foreign power; disloyalty; treachery.

Loosely, the betrayal of any trust or confidence; treachery; perfidy.

Related Definitions:

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Treason Quotations

The last temptation is the greatest treason: to do the right deed for the wrong reason.
T. S. Eliot

Disunion by force is treason.
Andrew Jackson

I shouldn't be saying this - high treason, really - but I sometimes wonder if Americans aren't fooled by our accent into detecting brilliance that may not really be there.
Stephen Fry

Cynicism is intellectual treason.
Norman Cousins

I have always considered it as treason against the great republic of human nature, to make any man's virtues the means of deceiving him.
Samuel Johnson

If this be treason, make the most of it!
Patrick Henry

Pity is treason.
Maximilien Robespierre

Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? Why if it prosper, none dare call it treason.
John Harrington

All men should have a drop of treason in their veins, if nations are not to go soft like so many sleepy pears.
Rebecca West

Bad literature is a form of treason.
Joseph Brodsky

Men will confess to treason, murder, arson, false teeth, or a wig. How many of them will own up to a lack of humor?
Frank Moore Colby

I'm not saying that President Obama should be exempt from criticism, nor do I believe it is some act of racial treason for a black person to hold our president accountable for his actions.
Cornel West

No baseness or cruelty of treason so deep or so tragic shall enter our human world, but that loyal love shall be able in due time to oppose to just that deed of treason its fitting deed of atonement.
Josiah Royce

But the technology was accessible, which suggests incompetence on the part of our counterintelligence community and the Clinton Administration, and may in fact rise to the level of treason.
Charles Foster Bass

The world, as transformed by this creative deed, is better than it would have been had all else remained the same, but had that deed of treason not been done at all.
Josiah Royce

Treason doth never prosper, what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it Treason.
John Harington

A state that suppresses all freedom of speech, and which by imposing the most terrible punishments, treats each and every attempt at criticism, however morally justified, and every suggestion for improvement as plotting to high treason, is a state that breaks an unwritten law.
Kurt Huber

I think Bush's immigration proposal is treason and he should be impeached.
Peter Brimelow

The fundamental purpose of a novel like Count Julian is to achieve the unity of object and means of representation, the fusion of treason as scheme and treason as language.
Juan Goytisolo

Corporations cannot commit treason, nor be outlawed, nor excommunicated, for they have no souls.
Edward Coke

John Brown was tried for treason, murder, and inciting slaves to insurrection.
John Sergeant Wise

There are only two ways to remove the president - if he violates the constitution or commits high treason. How could anyone accuse me of treason after I had terminated Israel's occupation of South Lebanon in 2000.
Emile Lahoud

We ought instead of retreating should follow up the enemy and take Richmond. And in full view of all responsible for such declaration, I say to you all, such an order can only be prompted by cowardice or treason.
Philip Kearny

The treason of which I stand convicted loses all its guilt, has been sanctified as a duty, and will be ennobled as a sacrifice.
Thomas Francis Meagher

This principle is old, but true as fate, Kings may love treason, but the traitor hate.
Thomas Dekker

America's state religion, is patriotism, a phenomenon which has convinced many of the citizenry that "treason" is morally worse than murder or rape.
William Blum

Corporations cannot commit treason, or be outlawed or excommunicated, for they have no souls.
Harold Coffin

Ingratitude is treason to mankind.
James Thomson

The people of our state will no longer tolerate advocates of treason.
George Smathers

More Treason Quotations

Treason Translations

treason in German is Verrat
treason in Latin is proditio, proditio

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