America
Fortunately, the time has long passed when people
liked to regard the United States as some kind of
melting pot, taking men and women from every part
of the world and converting them into standardized,
homogenized Americans. We are, I think, much more
mature and wise today. Just as we welcome a world
of diversity, so we glory in an America of diversity--
an America all the richer for the many different and
distinctive strands of which it is woven.
Hubert H. Humphrey "All-America Tribute to
Archbishop Iakovos," speech,
15 Jan. 1967, Chicago, Ill.
"In the minds and hearts of the American people, there is
a great hunger for peace based on a universal
recognition of the values of freedom and human dignity."
Hubert H. Humphrey
"The message of the United States is not nuclear power.
The message of the United States is a spiritual message.
It is the message of human ideals; it is the message of
human dignity; it is the message of the freedom of ideas,
speech, press, the right to assemble, to worship, and the
message of freedom of movement of people." 1977
Hubert H. Humphrey
Be clear where America stands. Human brotherhood and
equal opportunity for every man, woman, and child, we
are committed to it, in America and around the world."
Hubert Humphrey 1967
American Dream
"You cannot tell a poor boy from a small country town
on the plains of South Dakota who has had the
opportunity to be a teacher, a mayor, a senator, and
a vice president, that America is not a nation of promise."
Hubert H. Humphrey
1977
American Progress
Much of our American progress has been the product
of the individual who had an idea; pursued it; fashioned
it; tenaciously clung to it against all odds; and then
produced it, sold it, and profited from it.
HHH
Arms
Certainly one of the chief guarantees of freedom
under any government, no matter how popular and
respected, is the right of citizens to keep and bear
arms.... The right of citizens to bear arms is just one
guarantee against arbitrary government, one more
safeguard against the tyranny which now appears
remote in America but which historically has proven
to be always possible.
Hubert H. Humphrey
Bad Law
There are not enough jails, not enough policemen,
not enough courts to enforce a law not supported
by the people
Hubert H. Humphrey
Bigotry
The ugliness of bigotry stands in direct contradiction
to the very meaning of America.
Hubert H. Humphrey
We should have learnt by now that laws and court
decisions can only point the way. They can establish
criteria of right and wrong. And they can provide a
basis for rooting out the evils of bigotry and racism.
But they cannot wipe away centuries of oppression
and injustice however much we might desire it.
Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-78)
Speech, 1 June 1966, White House Conference
Civil Rights
"The leadership for civil rights has to take place in the
White House or it is going to take place in the streets."
Hubert H. Humphrey, 1964
"There are those who say to you -we are rushing this
issue of civil rights. I say we are 172 years late. There
are those who say -this issue of civil rights is an
infringement on states rights. The time has arrived for
the Democratic Party to get out of the shadow of
state's rights and walk forthrightly into the bright
sunshine of human rights."
Hubert H. Humphrey, 1948
Crises
"In this time of national crises...per haps we would do
well to spend a few minutes in considering projects
which grace and embellish the earth, instead of
shaking it."
Hubert H. Humphrey, 1962
Difference
"I believe that each of us can make a difference. That
what is wrong can be made right. That people possess
the basic wisdom and goodness to govern themselves
without conflict." 1968
Do
"You can always debate about what you should have
done. The question is what are you going to do?"
Hubert H. Humphrey
"What you do, what each of us does, has an effect on
the country, the state, the nation, and the world."
Hubert H. Humphrey, 1968
"I am not here to judge whether people are locked in
poverty because of themselves or because of the society
in which they live. All I know is that they are there and we
are trying to do something about it."
Hubert H. Humphrey, 1966
Double Standard
"We cannot use a double standard for measuring our
own and other people's policies. Our demands for
democratic practices in other lands will be no more
effective than the guarantees of those practiced in
our own country."
Hubert H. Humphrey, 1948
Economics
"I learned more about economics from one South Dakota
dust storm than I did in all my years of college."
Hubert H. Humphrey
Equality
"Equality means equality for all— no exceptions, no 'yes,
buts', no asterisked footnotes imposing limits." 1967
Failure and Defeat
"There is a lot of difference between failure and defeat.
Failure is when you are defeated and neither learn nor
contribute anything."
Hubert H. Humphrey
1970
Freedom
Freedom is the most contagious virus known to man.
Hubert H. Humphrey
Source: Speech, New York City, 29 October 1964
"Freedom is hammered out on the anvil
of discussion, dissent and debate."
Hubert H. Humphrey
(1911-1978) US Vice-President, US Senator (D-MN)
Source: Speech, Syracuse University, 6 June 1965
"The road to freedom here and everywhere on
earth begins in the classroom."
Hubert H. Humphrey
"The gap between the rich and the poor is the most
dangerous threat to world peace we have."
Hubert H. Humphrey
Friendship
The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have
received it.
The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love."
God
"When we say, 'One nation under God, with liberty and
justice for all', we are talking about all people. We either
ought to believe it or quit saying it ."
Hubert H. Humphrey, 1966
Government
The moral test of government is how that government
treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children;
those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and
those in the shadows of life--the sick, the needy,
and the handicapped.
Hubert H. Humphrey 11/1/77
The impersonal hand of government can never replace
the helping hand of a neighbor.
- Hubert H Humphrey
Human Spirit
There are incalculable resources in the human spirit,
once it has been set free.
Hubert H. Humphrey
Leadership
American public opinion is like the ocean--
it cannot be stirred by a teaspoon.
HHH, Gannon College, 10/11/66
Leadership in today's world requires far more than a
large stock of gunboats and a hard fist at the
conference table.
Living
"There is a great deal of difference between living and
surviving. You can survive in debauchery, even in sickness
and despair. But you live with a spirit of vitality and a spirit
of participation, of being wanted, and having something
to contribute."
Hubert H. Humphrey, 1966
"It is all too easy for a society to measure itself against
some abstract philosophical principle or political slogan.
But in the end, there must remain the question: What kind
of life is one society providing to the people that live in it?"
Hubert H. Humphrey, 1966
Moral Test of a Government
"The moral test of a government is how it treats those
who are at the dawn of life, the children; those who
are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those who are
in the shadow of life, the sick, the needy, and the
handicapped."
Hubert H. Humphrey
1976
Peace
The pursuit of peace resembles the building of a great
cathedral. It is the work of a generation. In concept it
requires a master-architect; in execution, the labors
of many.
--Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-78)
U.S. Democratic politician, vice president.
Remarks, 17 Feb. 1965, New York City.
"Peace is not passive, it is active. Peace is not
appeasement, it is strength. Peace does happen.
It requires work."
Hubert H. Humphrey
Politics
Defeat, like victory, is only a passing phenomenon in
a political career. The battle for one's ideals and beliefs
must go on, and I mean to pursue mine.
HHH after defeat in 1968
The hardest job for a politician today is to have the
courage to be a moderate. It's easy to take an
extreme position.
It is not what they take away from you that counts.
It's what you do with what you have left.
Poverty
"This is the first generation in all of recorded history that
can do something about the scourge of poverty. We have
the means to do it. We can banish hunger from the face
of the earth." 1965
Right
The right to be heard does not include the right to be
taken seriously.
- Hubert Humphrey
Rose
In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of
the rose depends upon the name it bears. Things are
not only what they are. They are, in very important
respects, what they seem to be.
Something
"If I believe in something, I will fight for it, with all I have.
But I do not demand all or nothing. I would rather get
something than nothing."
- Hubert Humphrey, 1963
Surprise
Surprise
Behind every successful man stands a surprised
mother-in-law."
Trickle Down
"My philosophy has always been that benefits should
percolate up rather than trickle down."
Hubert H. Humphrey 1971
Truth
Men in earnest have no time to waste In patching
fig-leaves for the naked truth.
Hubert H. Humphrey ,
36th US Vice President, Democrat
Unemployment
"There is no such thing as an acceptable level of
unemployment, because hunger is not acceptable,
poverty is not acceptable, poor health is not acceptable,
and a ruined life is not acceptable."
Hubert H. Humphrey
What Do We Want?
"What do we want for people? Human dignity, personal
expression and fulfillment, justice, freedom."
Hubert H. Humphrey, 1967
Youth
Each child is an adventure into a better life--an
opportunity to change the old pattern and make it new.
World War II
Today we know that World War II began not in 1939
or 1941 but in the 1920's and 1930's when those who
should have known better persuaded themselves
that they were not their brother's keeper.
Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-78),
Speech, 11 Nov. 1965
Mail James Richard Howington
Bad Law There are not enough jails, not enough policemen, not enough courts to enforce a law not supported by the people Hubert H. Humphrey Bigotry The ugliness of bigotry stands in direct contradiction to the very meaning of America. Hubert H. Humphrey We should have learnt by now that laws and court decisions can only point the way. They can establish criteria of right and wrong. And they can provide a basis for rooting out the evils of bigotry and racism. But they cannot wipe away centuries of oppression and injustice however much we might desire it. Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-78) Speech, 1 June 1966, White House Conference Civil Rights "The leadership for civil rights has to take place in the White House or it is going to take place in the streets." Hubert H. Humphrey, 1964 "There are those who say to you -we are rushing this issue of civil rights. I say we are 172 years late. There are those who say -this issue of civil rights is an infringement on states rights. The time has arrived for the Democratic Party to get out of the shadow of state's rights and walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights." Hubert H. Humphrey, 1948 Crises "In this time of national crises...per haps we would do well to spend a few minutes in considering projects which grace and embellish the earth, instead of shaking it." Hubert H. Humphrey, 1962 Difference "I believe that each of us can make a difference. That what is wrong can be made right. That people possess the basic wisdom and goodness to govern themselves without conflict." 1968 Do "You can always debate about what you should have done. The question is what are you going to do?" Hubert H. Humphrey "What you do, what each of us does, has an effect on the country, the state, the nation, and the world." Hubert H. Humphrey, 1968 "I am not here to judge whether people are locked in poverty because of themselves or because of the society in which they live. All I know is that they are there and we are trying to do something about it." Hubert H. Humphrey, 1966 Double Standard "We cannot use a double standard for measuring our own and other people's policies. Our demands for democratic practices in other lands will be no more effective than the guarantees of those practiced in our own country." Hubert H. Humphrey, 1948 Economics "I learned more about economics from one South Dakota dust storm than I did in all my years of college." Hubert H. Humphrey Equality "Equality means equality for all— no exceptions, no 'yes, buts', no asterisked footnotes imposing limits." 1967 Failure and Defeat "There is a lot of difference between failure and defeat. Failure is when you are defeated and neither learn nor contribute anything." Hubert H. Humphrey 1970 Freedom Freedom is the most contagious virus known to man. Hubert H. Humphrey Source: Speech, New York City, 29 October 1964 "Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent and debate." Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-1978) US Vice-President, US Senator (D-MN) Source: Speech, Syracuse University, 6 June 1965 "The road to freedom here and everywhere on earth begins in the classroom." Hubert H. Humphrey "The gap between the rich and the poor is the most dangerous threat to world peace we have." Hubert H. Humphrey Friendship The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it. The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love."
God "When we say, 'One nation under God, with liberty and justice for all', we are talking about all people. We either ought to believe it or quit saying it ." Hubert H. Humphrey, 1966 Government The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those in the shadows of life--the sick, the needy, and the handicapped. Hubert H. Humphrey 11/1/77 The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor. - Hubert H Humphrey
Human Spirit There are incalculable resources in the human spirit, once it has been set free. Hubert H. Humphrey
Leadership American public opinion is like the ocean-- it cannot be stirred by a teaspoon. HHH, Gannon College, 10/11/66 Leadership in today's world requires far more than a large stock of gunboats and a hard fist at the conference table. Living "There is a great deal of difference between living and surviving. You can survive in debauchery, even in sickness and despair. But you live with a spirit of vitality and a spirit of participation, of being wanted, and having something to contribute." Hubert H. Humphrey, 1966 "It is all too easy for a society to measure itself against some abstract philosophical principle or political slogan. But in the end, there must remain the question: What kind of life is one society providing to the people that live in it?" Hubert H. Humphrey, 1966 Moral Test of a Government "The moral test of a government is how it treats those who are at the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those who are in the shadow of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped." Hubert H. Humphrey 1976 Peace The pursuit of peace resembles the building of a great cathedral. It is the work of a generation. In concept it requires a master-architect; in execution, the labors of many. --Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-78) U.S. Democratic politician, vice president. Remarks, 17 Feb. 1965, New York City. "Peace is not passive, it is active. Peace is not appeasement, it is strength. Peace does happen. It requires work." Hubert H. Humphrey
Politics Defeat, like victory, is only a passing phenomenon in a political career. The battle for one's ideals and beliefs must go on, and I mean to pursue mine. HHH after defeat in 1968 The hardest job for a politician today is to have the courage to be a moderate. It's easy to take an extreme position. It is not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left. Poverty "This is the first generation in all of recorded history that can do something about the scourge of poverty. We have the means to do it. We can banish hunger from the face of the earth." 1965 Right The right to be heard does not include the right to be taken seriously. - Hubert Humphrey Rose In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears. Things are not only what they are. They are, in very important respects, what they seem to be. Something "If I believe in something, I will fight for it, with all I have. But I do not demand all or nothing. I would rather get something than nothing." - Hubert Humphrey, 1963 Surprise Surprise Behind every successful man stands a surprised mother-in-law."
Trickle Down "My philosophy has always been that benefits should percolate up rather than trickle down." Hubert H. Humphrey 1971 Truth Men in earnest have no time to waste In patching fig-leaves for the naked truth. Hubert H. Humphrey , 36th US Vice President, Democrat
Unemployment "There is no such thing as an acceptable level of unemployment, because hunger is not acceptable, poverty is not acceptable, poor health is not acceptable, and a ruined life is not acceptable." Hubert H. Humphrey What Do We Want? "What do we want for people? Human dignity, personal expression and fulfillment, justice, freedom." Hubert H. Humphrey, 1967 Youth Each child is an adventure into a better life--an opportunity to change the old pattern and make it new. World War II Today we know that World War II began not in 1939 or 1941 but in the 1920's and 1930's when those who should have known better persuaded themselves that they were not their brother's keeper. Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-78), Speech, 11 Nov. 1965 Mail James Richard Howington
