Live for today. Multitudes of people have failed to live for today … What they have had within their grasp today they have missed entirely, because only the future has intrigued them.
—William Allen White
Topics: The Present
Consistency is a paste jewel that only cheap men cherish.
—William Allen White
Topics: Consistency, Change
Since others have to tolerate my weaknesses, it is only fair that I should tolerate theirs.
—William Allen White
Topics: Tolerance
There is no insanity so devastating in man’s life as utter sanity.
—William Allen White
Topics: Insanity, Sanity
Everyone expects to go further than his father went; everyone expects to be better than he was born and every generation has one big impulse in its heart—to exceed all the other generations of the past in all the things that make life worth living.
—William Allen White
Topics: Motivation, Generations
Democracy is an experiment, and the right of the majority to rule is no more inherent than the right of the minority to rule; and unless the majority represents sane, righteous, unselfish public sentiment, it has no inherent right.
—William Allen White
Topics: Government
Greatness, generally speaking, is an unusual quantity of a usual quality grafted upon a common man.
—William Allen White
Topics: Greatness
In several educational institutions during the last few years manifestation of student activity in riots has been exciting the country. To the conservative The Mindse riots bode no good. As a matter of fact student riots of one sort or another, protests against the order that is, kicks against college and university management indicate a healthy growth and a normal functioning of the academic mind. Youth should be radical. Youth should demand change in the world. Youth should not accept the old order if the world is to move on. But the old orders should not be moved easily certainly not at the mere whim or behest of youth. There must be clash and if youth hasn’t enough force or fervor to produce the clash the world grows stale and stagnant and sour in decay. If our colleges and universities do not breed men who riot, who rebel, who attack life with all the youthful vim and vigor, then there is something wrong with our colleges. The more riots that come on college campuses, the better world for tomorrow.
—William Allen White
Liberty is the only thing you cannot have unless you are willing to give it to others.
—William Allen White
Topics: Liberty
Advertising is the genie which is transforming America into a place of comfort, luxury and ease for millions.
—William Allen White
Topics: Advertising, Luxury
I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
—William Allen White
Topics: The Present, Anxiety, Fear, Future, Courage, Tomorrow, Faith, The Future
So, dear friend, put fear out of your heart. This nation will survive, this state will prosper, the orderly business of life will go forward if only men can speak in whatever way given them to utter what their hearts holdby voice, by posted card, by letter or by press. Reason never has failed men. Only force and repression have made the wrecks in the world.
—William Allen White
Topics: Reason
The facts fairly and honestly presented; truth will take care of itself.
—William Allen White
Topics: Journalism, Journalists
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