Eleanor Roosevelt was a woman before her time. Her intelligence, drive, and ambition made her one of America’s most impressive first ladies. Eleanor Roosevelt quotes embody and carry this trailblazer’s spirit into our present day.
Born in New York City, Eleanor Roosevelt was a ‘city gal’ with her creative ideas and care for local social issues. As a teenager, she taught immigrant children and families in Lower Manhattan. During this time, she was courted by her fifth cousin: Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Yes, you read that correctly – Eleanor Roosevelt’s father was Theodore Roosevelt’s brother. Marriage between distant cousins was quite normal at the time!
Nevertheless, Eleanor was a backbone for her husband, from his Senate days through to his Presidency. When FDR was elected President, Eleanor did not shy away from political activity. She became the first First Lady to hold her own press conferences. Not only that – these conferences allowed women reporters only. This had a long term impact on jobs in journalism for women, as newspapers were forced to hire more female reporters. Eleanor was also an avid writer herself, curating her own speeches and contributing articles to several publications.
Eleanor’s passion for advocacy didn’t stop there.
She played a major role in FDR’s presidency, which was the longest in U.S. history. FDR’s three terms gave Eleanor more extended opportunity to champion human rights. Eleanor openly opposed racial discrimination and fascist agendas. In fact, she was bold enough to oppose her husband’s policies, particularly Japanese internment camps.
Despite FDR’s tragic death in 1945, Eleanor proceeded on her journey of social activism. She served as the chair of the U.N. Commission of Human Rights from 1946 to 1953. She played a central role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that still defines the rights and liberties of every single human being today. Eleanor’s work heavily influenced her induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1973, 11 years after her death.
Eleanor’s legacy still lives on through her powerful words and achievements. These 20 Eleanor Roosevelt quotes are a brilliant example of just that!
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“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously.”
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“A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water.”
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“You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude.”
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“Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn’t have the power to say yes.”
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“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”
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“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
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“Friendship with one’s self is all important, because without it one can not be friends with anyone else in the world.”
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“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.”
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“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
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“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.”
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“If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.”
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“Do what you feel in your heart to be right — for you’ll be criticized anyway.”
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“Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.”
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“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.”
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“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”
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“Have convictions. Be friendly. Stick to your beliefs as they stick to theirs. Work as hard as they do.”
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“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
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“Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.”
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“One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes… and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.”
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“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.”
Feeling inspired by these Eleanor Roosevelt quotes? We are too. Let us know which quote sticks with you the most in the comments below!
Featured Image Courtesy of Wikipedia
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