The United Nations is designed to make possible lasting freedom and independence for all its members.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Nationalism, Nationality, Nation
I come to the office each morning and stay for long hours doing what has to be done to the best of my ability. And when you’ve done the best you can, you can’t do any better. So when I go to sleep I turn everything over to the Lord and forget it.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Contentment, Happiness
Whenever I make a bum decision, I just go out and make another.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Decide, Decisions, Courage
The “C” students run the world.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Perfection
We must build a new world, a far better world—one in which the eternal dignity of man is respected.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Discovery, Respect
They said we were soft, that we would not fight, that we could not win. We are not a warlike nation. We do not go to war for gain or for territory; we go to war for principles, and we produce young men like these. I think I told every one of them that I would rather have that medal, the Congressional Medal of Honor, than to be President of the United States.
—Harry S. Truman
All the president is is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing, and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Presidency
I’ve said many a time that I think the Un-American Activities Committee in the House of Representatives was the most un-American thing in America!
—Harry S. Truman
Politics is a fascinating game, because politics is government. It is the art of government.
—Harry S. Truman
It isn’t important who is ahead at one time or another, in either an election or a horse race.
It’s the horse that comes in first at the finish that counts.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Horses
You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand a little one. I don’t believe in little plans. I believe in plans big enough to meet a situation which we can’t possibly foresee now.
—Harry S. Truman
My favorite animal is the mule. He has a lot more horse sense than a horse. He knows when to stop eating. And he knows when to stop working.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Animals
I never gave anybody hell! I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Truth
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were political enemies, but they became fast friends. And when they passed away on the same day, the last words of one of them was, The country is safe. Jefferson still lives. And the last words of the other was, John Adams will see that things go forward.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Friendship
No one in the world can take the place of your mother. Right or wrong, from her viewpoint you are always right. She may scold you for little things, but never for the big ones.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Motherhood, Mothers
If that’s art, I’m a Hottentot!
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Art, Arts, Artists
All through history it’s the nations that have given most to generals and the least to the people that have been the first to fall.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Nation
Carry the battle to them. Don’t let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don’t ever apologize for anything.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Battle
I always considered statesmen to be more expendable than soldiers.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Soldiers, Politicians, Politics
Whenever you have an efficient government, you have a dictatorship.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Government
Give me a one-handed economist! All my economics say, “On the one hand? on the other.”
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Economics
How far would Moses have gone if he had taken a poll in Egypt? What would Jesus Christ have preached if he had taken a poll in the land of Israel? What would have happened to the Reformation if Martin Luther had taken a poll? It isn’t polls or public opinion of the moment that counts. It’s right and wrong and leadership.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Leadership, Love, Politics, Vision, Decisions
It is understanding that gives us an ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow’s viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we can sit down and work out our differences.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Peace, Understanding
I would rather have peace in the world than be President.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Peace
A president either is constantly on top of events or, if he hesitates, events will soon be on top of him. I never felt that I could let up for a moment.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Management
A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities; an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Opportunities, Pessimism, Optimism
I learned that a great leader is a man who has the ability to get other people to do what they don’t want to do and like it.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Leaders, Inspiration, Leadership
People are very much wrought up about the Communist bugaboo.
—Harry S. Truman
It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose your own.
—Harry S. Truman
Topics: Jobs, Unemployment, Depression, Economy
It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.
—Harry S. Truman
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Herbert Hoover American Statesman
- Franklin D. Roosevelt American Head of State
- Charles G. Dawes American Diplomat, Politician
- Lyndon B. Johnson American Head of State
- Gerald Ford American Head of State
- Hubert Humphrey American Head of State
- Ronald Reagan American Head of State
- Richard Nixon American Head of State
- John F. Kennedy American Head of State
- Dwight D. Eisenhower American Head of State
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