Adlai Stevenson was an American politician and diplomat who served as the 23rd Vice President of the United States from 1893 to 1897. He is known for his inspiring and thought-provoking quotes about progress, democracy, peace, and justice. His quotes emphasize the importance of understanding history, the need for collaboration, and the value of optimism. His words still resonate today and are a reminder of the importance of civil discourse, equal rights, and working together to create a better future.
41 Best Adlai Stevenson Quotes
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“The men and women of America have not failed. In their need they have registered a mandate that they want direct, vigorous action.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The world is divided into people who do things and people who get the credit. Try, if you can, to belong to the first class. There’s far less competition.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“It’s hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight – it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The only valid test of leadership is that somebody follows.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“A hungry man is not a free man.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created – created first in the mind and will, created next in activity.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“Man is a creature who lives not upon bread alone, but primarily by catchwords.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The domestic issues are the bread and butter issues of human life.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The best road to progress is freedom’s road.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“Your ignorance of the facts is not justification for your prejudice.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“We travel together, passengers on a little spaceship, dependent on its vulnerable reserves of air and soil, all committed for our safety to its security and peace. Preserved from annihilation only by the care, the work and, I will say, the love we give our fragile craft.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The power to shape the future of the Republic will be in the hands of the voters.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“As citizens of this democracy, you are the rulers and the ruled, the law-givers and the law-abiding, the beginning and the end.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“An honest man is always a child.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood…”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The greatest labor a man can perform is to work with his brains.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“A free society is a place where it’s safe to be unpopular.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“If the people lead, the leaders will follow.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The only way to make sure people you agree with can speak is to support the rights of people you don’t agree with.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The greatest virtue in man is perhaps curiosity.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“Peace is the one condition of survival in this nuclear age.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“A hungry man is not a free man.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“Agreement on fundamentals is a necessary first step to progress.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“It is often easier to fight for principles than to live up to them.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“A free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“In America, with all of its evils and faults, you can still reach through the forest and see the sun.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“Liberty is not collective, it is personal. All liberty is individual liberty.”
– Adlai Stevenson
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“Peace is the one condition of survival in this nuclear age.”
– Adlai Stevenson
Conclusion
Adlai Stevenson was a man of many talents, but his most memorable contributions were his wise words and insightful quotes. His wit and wisdom continue to inspire generations and remain relevant to this day. He understood the power of words and how they can shape our lives in ways we can’t imagine. His words are a reminder to live life to the fullest, to reach for our dreams, and to never give up. Adlai Stevenson’s quotes are a testament to his life and legacy, and will continue to influence generations to come.
