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Norman Thomas

Norman Thomas Quotes

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Norman Thomas was a prominent political activist and socialist in the early 20th century. Born on November 20, 1884, and passing away on December 19, 1968, Thomas had a significant impact on American politics and society. He was deeply involved in the socialist movement and the peace movement, advocating for social justice and opposing war and arms race.

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All Ifs Liberty President Socialism War World America Life Is Men New World

Famous Norman Thomas Quotes

“All our rulers have said that war is unthinkable, and then we think about it almost all the time. We've got to make it unthinkable.”

Thinking Said War Rulers Unthinkable

Author:Norman Thomas

“The doctrine of thrift for the poor is dumb and cruel, like advising them to try and lift themselves by their bootstraps.”

Trying Poor Doctrine Dumb Lifts Thrift Bootstraps

Author:Norman Thomas

“Rebellion per se is not a virtue. If it were, we would have some heroes on very low levels.”

Ifs Levels Virtue Hero Lows Rebellion Low Level

Book:Great Dissenters

Source: Great Dissenters

“You may use different sorts of sentences and illustrations before different sorts of audiences, but you don't -- if you are wise -- talk down to any audience.”

Ifs May Different Use Audience Wise Sentences Illustration

Author:Norman Thomas

“Harry Truman proves that old adage that any man can become President of the United States.”

Men States President United United States Prove Adages Truman Harry Truman

Author:Norman Thomas

“The central law of all wholesome life is reciprocity, mutuality. ... But the group is valuable only as it permits personalities, not automatons, to emerge.”

Law Life Is Groups Personality Valuable Permit Reciprocity

Author:Norman Thomas

“The secret of a good life is to have the right loyalties and hold them in the right scale of values.”

Life Inspirational Life Is Values Secret Inspire Humorous Loyalty Scales Insightful Good Life

Book:Great Dissenters

Source: Great Dissenters

“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.”

“Peace will never be entirely secure until men everywhere have learned to conquer poverty without sacrificing liberty or security.”

Men Liberty Poverty Sacrifice Security Secure Conquer Ending Poverty

Author:Norman Thomas

“He who would save liberty must put his trust in democracy.”

Liberty Democracy Military

Author:Norman Thomas

“Kennedy said that if we had nuclear war we'd kill 300 million people in the first hour. McNamara, who is a good businessman and likes to save, says it would be only 200 million.”

People Ifs Firsts Said War Would Be Hours Millions Nuclear Likes Businessman Nuclear War Good Business Nuclear Bomb

Author:Norman Thomas

“The very existence of armaments and great armies psychologically accustoms us to accept the philosophy of militarism. They inevitably increase fear and hate in the world.”

World War Philosophy Hate Existence Accepting Increase Army Anti War Militarism Armament Great Army

Author:Norman Thomas

“I am not the champion of lost causes, but the champion of causes not yet won.”

Lost Causes Champion Lost Cause

Author:Norman Thomas

“The Socialist Party will no longer be running a candidate for president. The Democratic Party is leading this country to Socialism much faster than we could ever hope to.”

Country Running President Party Democratic Socialism Faster Candidates Socialist Democratic Party Socialist Party

Author:Norman Thomas

“The difference between Democrats and Republicans is: Democrats have accepted some ideas of Socialism cheerfully, while Republicans have accepted them reluctantly”

Ideas Differences Republican Democrat Accepted Socialism

Author:Norman Thomas

“If you want a symbolic gesture, don't burn the flag, wash it.”

Ifs Want Flags Gestures Symbolic

Author:Norman Thomas

“I always get more applause than votes.”

Book:What are the Answers?: Norman Thomas Speaks to Youth

Source: What are the Answers?: Norman Thomas Speaks to Youth

“There are some plain common-sense considerations applicable to all these attempts at world planning. They can be briefly stated: 1. To talk of blueprints for the future or building a world order is, if properly understood, suggestive, but it is also dangerous. Societies grow far more truly than they are built. A constitution for a new world order is never like a blueprint for a skyscraper.”

Source: What is our destiny?

“To us Americans much has been given; of us much is required. With all our faults and mistakes, it is our strength in support of the freedom our forefathers loved which has saved mankind from subjection to totalitarian power.”

Has Beens America Given Mistake Power Support Mankind Faults Saved Forefathers Subjection

Book:The Test of Freedom

Source: The Test of Freedom

“Dissent... is a right essential to any concept of the dignity and freedom of the individual; it is essential to the search for truth in a world wherein no authority is infallible.”

World Individual President Essentials Authority Concepts Dignity Dissent Infallible Search For Truth

Author:Norman Thomas

“I walk where I choose to walk.”

Author:Norman Thomas

About the Author

Born: November 20, 1884
Died: December 19, 1968
Known for: Author
Quotes: 21

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Ifs Liberty President Socialism War World America Life Is Men New World

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People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Great DissentersRelated source material

The Test of FreedomRelated source material

What are the Answers?: Norman Thomas Speaks to YouthRelated source material

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