Adlai Stevenson II Quotes

130 Sourced Quotes

To remember the loneliness, the fear and the insecurity of men who once had to walk alone in huge factories, beside huge machines—to realize that labor unions have meant new dignity and pride to millions of our countrymen—human companionship on the job, and music in the home—to be able to see what larger pay checks mean, not to a man as an employee, but as a husband and as a father—to know these things is to understand what American labor means.

Adlai Stevenson II
We talk a great deal about patriotism. What do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times? I venture to suggest that what we mean is a sense of national responsibility which will enable America to remain master of her power — to walk with it in serenity and wisdom, with self-respect and the respect of all mankind; a patriotism that puts country ahead of self; a patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime. The dedication of a lifetime — these are words that are easy to utter, but this is a mighty assignment. For it is often easier to fight for principles than to live up to them.

Adlai Stevenson II
The time to stop a revolution is at the beginning, not the end.

Adlai Stevenson II
The Republican Vice Presidential Candidate... asks you to place him a heartbeat from the Presidency.

Adlai Stevenson II
On Eisenhower having dedicated countless buildings and other public structures:
The General has dedicated himself so many times he must feel like the cornerstone of a public building.

Adlai Stevenson II
The strange alchemy of time has somehow converted the Democrats into the truly conservative party in the country—the party dedicated to conserving all that is best and building solidly and safely on these foundations. The Republicans, by contrast, are behaving like the radical party—the party of the reckless and embittered, bent on dismantling institutions which have been built solidly into our social fabric.

Adlai Stevenson II
Accuracy to a newspaper is what virtue is to a lady; but a newspaper can always print a retraction.

Adlai Stevenson II
The university is the archive of the Western mind, it's the keeper of the Western culture,... the guardian of our heritage, the teacher of our teachers,... the dwelling place of the free mind.

Adlai Stevenson II
The free press is the mother of all our liberties and of our progress under liberty.

Adlai Stevenson II
Nature is neutral. Man has wrested from nature the power to make the world a desert or to make the deserts bloom.

Adlai Stevenson II