Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) was an American humanitarian and diplomat. She was the first lady from 1933 until 1945, longer than any other president’s wife. She was an active advocate for human and civil rights and an early icon of the women’s rights movement.
Born in New York City to a prosperous family, Eleanor was the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1905, she married Franklin D. Roosevelt, her fifth cousin (once removed.) After he developed poliomyelitis in 1921, Eleanor helped him deal with the ailment and became his confidante and adviser. She assumed many of his public duties when he served first as governor of New York and then as president.
As her husband’s “eyes and ears,” Eleanor oversaw government officials as well as American troops before and during World War II. She also campaigned for improved employment opportunities for women and minorities.
Eleanor served a U.S. representative to the General Assembly of the United Nations (1945–53, 1961–62.) As chairperson of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, she helped draft the Declaration of Human Rights (1948.)
Roosevelt was a prolific writer; she wrote a syndicated and influential newspaper column for over twenty years. She also wrote It’s Up to the Women (1933,) This Troubled World (1938,) The Moral Basis of Democracy (1940,) and India and the Awakening East (1953.) She is also noted for her autobiographies This Is My Story (1937,) This I Remember (1949,) and On My Own (1958.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Eleanor Roosevelt
Never allow a person to tell you ‘no’ who doesn’t have the power to say ‘yes.’
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Confidence
If we want a free and peaceful world, if we want to make the deserts bloom and man grow to greater dignity as a human being-we can do it.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Peace
The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Planning, Energy
You get more joy out of giving joy to others and should put a good deal of thought into the happiness you are able to give.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Joy
One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And, the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Choice, Responsibility, Being True to Yourself, Philosophy, Self-reliance, Choices, Confidence
When all is said and done, and statesmen discuss the future of the world, the fact remains that people fight these wars.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Future
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by each experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, “I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Feelings, Fear
Handle yourself, use head; Handle others, use heart.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Kindness
When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Peace, Justice
To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
The basis of world peace is the teaching which runs through almost all the great religions of the world. “Love they neighbor as thyself.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Peace
What basic objective I had, for many years, was to grasp every opportunity to live and experience life as deeply, as fully, and as widely as I possibly could.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Purpose
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it ‘The Present’.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
We must want for others, not ourselves alone.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Sacrifice
When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Giving, Kindness, Service, Work, Living
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
I’m glad I never feel important, it does complicate life.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
We must preserve our right to think and differ.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Thinking
If I feel depressed, I go to work. Work is always an antidote to depression.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Habits
When you have decided what you believe, what you feel must be done, have the courage to stand alone and be counted.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Commitment, Dedication
When you ceased to make a contribution you begin to die.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Perhaps in His wisdom the Almighty is trying to show us that a leader may chart the way, may point out the road to lasting peace, but that many leaders and many peoples must do the building.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Leadership, Leaders
Understanding is a two-way street.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: One liners, Understanding
I learned then that practically no one in the world is entirely bad or entirely good, and that motives are often more important than actions.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Learn, Act, Action, Good
Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively, unless you can choose a challenge instead of a competence.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Thinking, Adventure, Security, Live, Life, Think
If you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Knowledge, Thought, Success, Kindness, Life, People, Compassion
Do what you feel in your heart to be right—for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Being True to Yourself, Art, Courage, Critics, Individuality, Criticism
There is nothing to regret—either for those who go or for those who are left behind.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Remorse, Disappointment, Regret
I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experience behind him.
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Anxiety, Fear
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Abigail Adams American First Lady
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis American First Lady
Martha Washington American First Lady
Barbara Bush American First Lady
Mary Todd Lincoln American First lady
Soong Mei-ling Chinese Political Figure
Franklin D. Roosevelt American Head of State
Theodore Roosevelt American Head of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton American Head of State
Bill Clinton American Head of State