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Studs Terkel

Studs Terkel Quotes

Author

Studs Terkel was an American author, born on May 16, 1912, and passed away on October 31, 2008. He is known for his in-depth interviews with the working class and ordinary people in the United States, with his most famous work being 'Working: People Talk About Their Jobs'.

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All People Book Thinking Want Wells Ifs Jobs World Guy Said Years Cities Courses Done Happens Knows Littles May Might Stories

Famous Studs Terkel Quotes

“When I put the plate down, you don't hear a sound. When I pick up a glass, I want it to be just right. When someone says, "How come you're just a waitress?" I say, "Don't you think you deserve being served by me?"”

Thinking Want Sound Picks Deserve Glasses Plates Waitress

Book:The Studs Terkel Reader: My American Century

Source: The Studs Terkel Reader: My American Century

“Dorothy Day said - and I'm sure that Kathy Kelly would say the same thing - 'I'm working toward a world in which it will be easier for people to behave decently.' Now, think about that: a world in which it will be easier for people to behave decently.”

People Thinking World Said Easier Behave

Author:Studs Terkel

“The people in Coming of Age were far less curmudgeonly than you would think. The greater percentage said that without the young we'd be lost. One woman, a former Southern belle, now 87, a philanthropist, says, "Well, these young, their history's been stolen from them. And what have we done to make them respect us?"”

People Thinking Done Age Coming Of Age Southern Philanthropist

Author:Studs Terkel

“You know, 'power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely'? It's the same with powerlessness. Absolute powerlessness corrupts absolutely. Einstein said everything had changed since the atom was split, except the way we think. We have to think anew.”

Thinking Knows Way Said Changed Absolutes Atoms Splits Powerlessness Absolute Power Power Corrupts Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

Author:Studs Terkel

“Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say: This is my community, and it is my responsibility to make it better. Interweave all these communities and you really have an America that is back on its feet again. I really think we are gonna have to reassess what constitutes a 'hero'.”

People Thinking America Community Responsibility Feet Sky Hero Red Giants Statues Framed Yesteryear

Book:American Dreams: Lost and Found

Source: American Dreams: Lost and Found

“I think it's realistic to have hope. One can be a perverse idealist and say the easiest thing: 'I despair. The world's no good.' That's a perverse idealist. It's practical to hope, because the hope is for us to survive as a human species. That's very realistic.”

Thinking World Humans Despair Species Practicals Realistic Having Hope Idealist Human Species

Author:Studs Terkel

“I'm not up on the Internet, but I hear that is a democratic possibility. People can connect with each other. I think people are ready for something, but there is no leadership to offer it to them. People are ready to say, 'Yes, we are part of a world.”

People Thinking World Leadership Possibility Ready Internet Offers Democratic

Author:Studs Terkel

“I'm not a Luddite completely; I believe in refrigerators to cool my martinis, and washing machines because I hate to see women smacking their laundry against a rock. When I hear about hardware, I think of pots and pans, and when I hear about software, I think of sheets and towels.”

Thinking Believe Art Hate Belief I Believe Rocks Machines I Hate I Believe In Pot Software Sheets Washing Laundry Refrigerators Hardware Towels Martini Washing Machines Pots And Pans

Author:Studs Terkel

“Think of what's stored in an 80- or a 90-year-old mind. Just marvel at it. You've got to get out this information, this knowledge, because you've got something to pass on. There'll be nobody like you ever again. Make the most of every molecule you've got as long as you've got a second to go.”

Thinking Years Mind Long Knowledge Information Like You Molecules

Author:Studs Terkel

About the Author

Born: May 16, 1912
Died: October 31, 2008
Known for: Author
Quotes: 107

Related Topics

People Book Thinking Want Wells Ifs Jobs World Guy Said Years Cities Courses Done Happens Knows Littles May Might Stories

Popular Topics

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

Books & Sources

The Studs Terkel Reader: My American CenturyRelated source material

WorkingRelated source material

American Dreams: Lost and FoundRelated source material

Touch and Go: A Memoir (Large Print 16pt)Related source material

Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They DoRelated source material

ChicagoRelated source material

Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great DepressionRelated source material

Studs Terkel's ChicagoRelated source material

Will the Circle Be Unbroken?: Reflections on Death, Rebirth, and Hunger for a FaithRelated source material

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