Eleanor Roosevelt

1884 - 1962

Life was meant to be lived and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.

In spite of timidity and fear, in spite of a lack of special talents, one can find a way to live widely and fully.

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.

Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

It was not until I reached middle age that I had the courage to develop interests of my own, outside of my duties to my family.

Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

I think if the people of this country can be reached with the truth, their judgment will be in favor of the many, as against the privileged few.

I have spent all my life in opposition and I rather like the role.

You get more joy out of the giving to others, and should put a good deal of thought into the happiness you are able to give.

You learn by living.

No matter how plain a woman may be if truth and loyalty are stamped upon her face all will be attracted to her.

When you cease to make a contribution you begin to die.

We have to face the fact that either all of us are going to die together or we are going to learn to live together and if we are to live together we have to talk.

It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.

About the only value the story of my life may have is to show that one can, even without any particular gifts, overcome obstacles that seem insurmountable if one is willing to face the fact that they must be overcome.

Women must learn to play the game as men do.

Looking back it strikes me that my childhood and my early youth were one long battle for fear.

It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling to do yourself.

Recommended Readings:
This Is My Story, 1937
Tomorrow Is Now, 1963

Recommended Resources:
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library