The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Neighbors, Helping
Leadership in today’s world requires far more than a large stock of gunboats and a hard fist at the conference table.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Leadership, Leaders
Unfortunately, our affluent society has also been an effluent society.
—Hubert Humphrey
The heroes of the world community are not those who withdraw when difficulties ensue, not those who can envision neither the prospect of success nor the consequence of failure—but those who stand the heat of battle, the fight for world peace through the United Nations.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Nation, Nationality, Nationalism
For the first time in the history of mankind, one generation literally has the power to destroy the past, the present and the future, the power to bring time to an end.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: War
History teaches us that the great revolutions aren’t started by people who are utterly down and out, without hope and vision. They take place when people begin to live a little better—and when they see how much yet remains to be achieved.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Revolutionaries, Revolution, Revolutions
The great challenge which faces us is to assure that, in our society of big-ness, we do not strangle the voice of creativity, that the rules of the game do not come to overshadow its purpose, that the grand orchestration of society leaves ample room for the man who marches to the music of another drummer.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Individuality
There is in every American, I think, something of the old Daniel Boone—who, when he could see the smoke from another chimney, felt himself too crowded and moved further out into the wilderness.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Wilderness
People in places many of us never heard of, whose names we can’t pronounce or even spell, are speaking up for themselves. They speak in languages we once classified as “exotic” but whose mastery is now essential for our diplomats and businessmen. But what they say is very much the same the world over. They want a decent standard of living. They want human dignity and a voice in their own futures. They want their children to grow up strong and healthy and free.
—Hubert Humphrey
Never answer a question from a farmer.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Politicians, Politics
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 Humphrey
Topics: Peace
There are those who say to you—we are rushing this issue of civil rights. I say we are 172 years late.
—Hubert Humphrey
The good old days were never that good, believe me. The good new days are today, and better days are coming tomorrow. Our greatest songs are still unsung.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Past, Reflection
Slumism is the pent-up anger of people living on the outside of affluence. Slumism is decay of structure and deterioration of the human spirit. Slumism is a virus which spreads through the body politic. As other isms, it breeds disorder and demagoguery and hate.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Poverty
Propaganda, to be effective, must be believed. To be believed, it must be credible. To be credible, it must be true.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Propaganda
The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Listening, Liberty
Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Weakness, Compassion
We believe that to err is human. To blame it on someone else is politics.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Blame
A politician never forgets the precarious nature of elective life. We have never established a practice of tenure in public office.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Politicians, Politics
Just be what you are and speak from your guts and heart—it’s all a man has.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Instincts
The difference between heresy and prophecy is often one of sequence. Heresy often turns out to have been prophecy—when properly aged.
—Hubert Humphrey
Liberalism, above all, means emancipation – emancipation from one’s fears, his inadequacies, from prejudice, from discrimination, from poverty.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Liberalism
The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Romance, Health
If there is dissatisfaction with the status quo, good. If there is ferment, so much the better. If there is restlessness, I am pleased. Then let there be ideas, and hard thought, and hard work. If man feels small, let man make himself bigger.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Satisfaction
Freedom is the most contagious virus known to man.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Freedom
Profit and morality are a hard combination to beat.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Profit
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 Humphrey
This, then, is the test we must set for ourselves; not to march alone but to march in such a way that others will wish to join us.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Example
The essence of statesmanship is not a rigid adherence to the past, but a prudent and probing concern for the future.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Politics
I learned more about economics from one South Dakota dust storm than I did in all my years in college.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Experience, Economics, Economy
National isolation breeds national neurosis.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Isolation, Solitude
Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate.
—Hubert Humphrey
There are not enough jails, not enough policemen, not enough law courts, to enforce a law not supported by the people.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Laws
Behind every successful man is a proud wife and a surprised mother-in-law.
—Hubert Humphrey
Each child is an adventure into a better life—an opportunity to change the old pattern and make it new.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Children
I have seen in the Halls of Congress more idealism, more humanness, more compassion, more profiles of courage than in any other institution that I have ever known.
—Hubert Humphrey
American public opinion is like an ocean — it cannot be stirred by a teaspoon.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Public opinion, Opinion
To be realistic today is to be visionary. To be realistic is to be starry-eyed.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Reality
Oh, my friend, it’s not what they take away from you that counts—it’s what you do with what you have left.
—Hubert Humphrey
Topics: Revolutions, Revolutionaries, Revolution, Attitude, Gratitude, Doing Your Best, Appreciation, Blessings
When people generally are aware of a problem, it can be said to have entered the public consciousness. When people get on their hind legs and holler, the problem has not only entered the public consciousness—it has also become a part of the public conscience. At that point, things in our democracy begin to hum.
—Hubert Humphrey
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
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Richard Nixon American Head of State
Charles G. Dawes American Diplomat, Politician
John F. Kennedy American Head of State
Ronald Reagan American Head of State
Calvin Coolidge American Head of State
John C. Calhoun American Head of State
Jimmy Carter American Head of State
Dan Quayle American Head of State
Adlai Stevenson American Diplomat