Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Eleanor Roosevelt (American Humanitarian)

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

Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes over night. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Heroes

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: Action, Learn, Act, Good

Friendship with oneself is all-important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Realization, Friends and Friendship, Friendship, Awareness, Acceptance

We must want for others, not ourselves alone.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Sacrifice

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Believe, Attitude, General, Beauty, Dreams, Dream, Belief, Tomorrow, Future, The Future, Graduation

A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Simplicity

You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Acceptance, Life, Doing Your Best, Courage, Effort

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

The hard part of loving is that one has to learn so often to let go of those we love, so they can do things, so they can grow, so they can return to us with an even richer, deeper love.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Rich, Learn, Love

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: Fear, Feelings

You must do the thing that you think you cannot do.
Eleanor Roosevelt

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: Self-reliance, Responsibility, Philosophy, Choices, Being True to Yourself, Choice, Confidence

With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Strength

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: Kindness, Thought, Life, Knowledge, Success, Compassion, People

The war for freedom will never really be won because the price of freedom is constant vigilance over ourselves and over our Government.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Freedom

When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Justice, Peace

Do one thing every day that scares you.
Eleanor Roosevelt

There is nothing to regret—either for those who go or for those who are left behind.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Disappointment, Remorse, Regret

Do not be afraid of mistakes, providing you do not make the same one twice.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Mistakes, Failures

A mature person is one who does not think only in absolutes, who is able to be objective even when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and in all things, and who walks humbly and deals charitably with the circumstances of life, knowing that in this world no one is all-knowing and therefore all of us need both love and charity.
Eleanor Roosevelt

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: Adventure, Think, Thinking, Security, Live, Life

A stumbling block to the pessimist is a stepping-stone to the optimist.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Perception, Attitude

Never allow a person to tell you ‘no’ who doesn’t have the power to say ‘yes.’
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Confidence

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

To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger.
Eleanor Roosevelt

People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Character

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

Perhaps nature is our best assurance of immortality.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Immortality

Handle yourself, use head; Handle others, use heart.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Topics: Kindness

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

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