Harry S. Truman
Of course, there are dangers in religious freedom and freedom of opinion. But to deny these rights is worse than dangerous, it is absolutely fatal to liberty.Collection: Religious
There is no more fundamental axiom of American freedom than the familiar statement: In a free country we punish men for the crimes they commit but never for the opinions they have.Collection: Country
I wonder how far Moses would have gone if he had taken a poll in Egypt? What would Jesus Christ have preached if He had taken a poll in the land of Israel? Where would the Reformation have gone if Martin Luther had taken a poll? It isn't polls or public opinion alone of the moment that counts.Collection: Leadership
Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix.Collection: Government
We must never forget that this coutry was founded by men who came to these shores to worship God as they pleased. Catholics, Jews, and Protestants, all came here for this great purpose. They did not come here to do as they pleased - but to worship God as they pleased, and that is an important distinction.Collection: Men
The difficulty with businessmen entering politics, after they've had a successful business career, is that they want to start at the top.Collection: Success
Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.Collection: Men
The atom bomb was no “great decision.” It was used in the war, and for your information, there were more people killed by fire bombs in Tokyo than dropping of the atomic bombs accounted for. It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness. The dropping of the bombs stopped the war, save millions of lives.Collection: Powerful
You cannot get all the facts from just one newspaper, and unless you have the facts, you cannot make proper judgments about what is going on.Collection: Judgement
When you can't do any housecleaning because everything that goes on is a damned secret, then we're on our way to something the Founding Fathers didn't have in mind. Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix.Collection: Father
We should resolve now that the health of this nation is a national concern; that financial barriers in the way of attaining health shall be removed; that the health of all it's citizens deserves the help of all the nation.Collection: Inspirational
An optimist is presented with a problem and sees an opportunity. A pessimist is presented with an opportunity and sees a problem.Collection: Opportunity
The 'C' students run the world.Collection: Running
If wars in the future are to be prevented the nations must be united in their determination to keep the peace under law.Collection: Determination
You know of our sympathetic interest in this country in Iran's desire to control its natural resources. From this point of view we were happy to see that the British Government has on its part accepted the principle of nationalization.Collection: Country
Put an underdog on top and it makes no difference whether his name is Russian, Jewish, Negro, Management, Labor, Mormon, or Baptist he goes haywire. I've found very, very few who remember their past condition when prosperity comes.Collection: Past
It is through generous giving, that we affirm before the world, our nation's faith in the inalienable right of every man, to a life of freedom, justice and security.Collection: Men
I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me.Collection: Stars
At the present moment in world history nearly every nation must choose between alternative ways of life. The choice is too often not a free one.Collection: Choices
Canada is a broad land - broad in mind, broad in spirit, and broad in physical expanse.Collection: Land
Our efforts have brought new hope to all mankind. We have beaten back despair and defeatism. We have saved a number of countries from losing their liberty. Hundreds of millions of people all over the world now agree with us, that we need not have war-that we can have peace.Collection: Country
There is a lure in power. It can get into a man's blood just as gambling and lust for money have been known to doCollection: Men
Unless Russia is face with an iron fist and strong language, another is in the making. Only one language do they understand - 'How many divisions have you?' ... I'm tired of babying the Soviets.Collection: Strong
There has been a lot of talk lately about the burdens of the Presidency. Decisions that the President has to make often affect the lives of tens of millions of people around the world, but that does not mean that they should take longer to make. Some men can make decisions and some cannot. Some men fret and delay under criticism. I used to have a saying that applies here, and I note that some people have picked it up, If you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.Collection: Mean
He was a great president in his first term; in his second term, he wasn't the same Grover Cleveland he was to begin with. ...Cleveland reestablished the presidency by being not only a chief executive but a leader.Collection: Leader
The record proves that in peaceful commerce the combined efforts of our countries can produce outstanding results. Our trade with each other is far greater than that of any other two nations on earth.Collection: Country
I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way. I believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aid which is essential to economic stability and orderly political processes.Collection: War
Andrew Johnson wasn't too bad, but he was overwhelmed by a hostile Congress.Collection: Overwhelmed
I enjoyed my new position as vice president, but it took me a while to get used to the fact that I no longer had the voting privileges I had enjoyed for 10 years as a senator.Collection: Years
To reporters the day after his accession to the presidency, April 13, 1945: When they told me yesterday what had happened, I felt like the moon, the stars and all the planets had fallen on me.Collection: Stars
The newcomers quickly learned their way about and soon felt at home. The Homestead Act of 1862 provided them, as well as many other pioneers, with an opportunity to acquire land and establish family farms. To the land-hungry immigrants, the tough prairie sod seemed a golden opportunity and they conquered it by hard work.Collection: Hard Work
When we refused to be forced out of Berlin, we demonstrated to the people of Europe that with their cooperation we would act, and act resolutely, when their freedom was threatened.Collection: Military
With firm faith in our hearts, to sustain us along the hard road to victory, we will find our way to a secure peace, for the ultimate benefit of all humanity.Collection: Heart
It is noble in its administration: to think and let think, beyond the narrow contracted prejudices of bitter sectarians in these modern times. It is general or universal language, fitted to benefit the poor stranger, which no other institution is calculated to reach, by extending the beneficent hand.Collection: Thinking
Millions do not now have protection or security against the economic effects of sickness.Collection: Sickness
If you can't convince them [with your logic] then just confound them [with your wit.]Collection: Logic
[The American President] has to take all sorts of abuse from liars and demagogues.… The people can never understand why the President does not use his supposedly great power to make ’em behave. Well, all the President is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway.Collection: Liars
The America to which these Swedish settlers came was a land that needed the hardy qualities they brought. It was not a land that was particularly softhearted towards newcomers, but everyone believed that each should have a fair chance regardless of his origin.Collection: Should Have
The world has experienced a revival of an old faith in the everlasting moral force of justice. At no time in history has there been a more important Conference, or a more necessary meeting, than this one in San Francisco, which you are opening today.Collection: San Francisco
Within the first few months I discovered that being president is like riding a tiger. A man has to keep riding or be swallowed. The fantastically crowded nine months of 1945 taught me that a President either is constantly on top of events or, if he hesitates, events will soon be on top of him. I never felt I could let up for a single moment.Collection: Single Mom
I don't want this office, this responsibility, any longer, even if you want me. Find the strongest and most able and God bless you. Good-bye.Collection: Goodbye
He wanted to know what assurance we could give the American people that we aren't getting the tar licked out of us by the North Korean army. It has never happened to us. It won't happen this time.Collection: War
I always considered statesmen to be more expendable than soldiers.Collection: Soldier
Once a decision was made, I didn't worry about it afterward.Collection: Worry
Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be remarked for their vices and follies than not be noticed at all!Collection: Mistake
This government has been informed that a Jewish state has been proclaimed in Palestine, and recognition has been requested by the provisional government thereof. The United States recognizes the provisional government as the de facto authority of the new State of Israel.Collection: Government
I never sit on a fence. I am either on one side or another.Collection: Sides
I believe in the brotherhood of man, not merely the brotherhood of white men but the brotherhood of all men before law.Collection: Believe