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Harry S. Truman Quotes - Page 2

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I can remember when a good politician had to be 75 percent ability and 25 percent actor, but I can well see the day when the reverse could be true.

I can remember when a good politician had to be 75 percent ability and 25 percent actor, but I can well see the day when the reverse could be true.

Harry S. Truman
Actors, Remember, Politician

Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.

Harry S. Truman
Country, Memorial Day, Gratitude
United States. President (1945-1953 : Truman), Harry S. Truman (1961). “Harry S. Truman: Containing the Public Messages, Speeches, and Statements of the President, 1945-53”

Three things ruin a man: power, money, and women. I never wanted power. I never had any money, and the only woman in my life is up at the house right now.

Harry S. Truman
Men, House, Three Things
Harry S. Truman, Ralph Keyes (1995). “Wit and wisdom of Harry Truman”, Harpercollins

To be able to lead others, a man must be willing to go forward alone.

Harry S. Truman
Leadership, Men, Able

Of course I believe in free enterprise but in my system of free enterprise, the democratic principle is that there never was, never has been, never will be, room for the ruthless exploitation of the many for the benefit of the few.

Harry S. Truman
Believe, Political, Principles

If you don't have your own goals, you'll be doomed to work toward someone else's.

Harry S. Truman
Goal, Doomed, Ifs

Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.

Harry S. Truman
Change, Leadership, Men

The Jews, I find, are very, very selfish. They care not how many Estonians, Latvians, Finns, Poles, Yugoslavs or Greeks get murdered or mistreated as Displaced Persons as long as the Jews get special treatment. Yet when they have power, physical, financial or political neither Hitler nor Stalin has anything on them for cruelty or mistreatment to the under dog. Put an underdog on top and it makes no difference whether his name is Russian, Jewish, Negro, Management, Labor, Mormon, Baptist he goes haywire. I've found very, very few who remember their past condition when prosperity comes.

Harry S. Truman
Dog, Selfish, Past

I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.

Harry S. Truman
Inspirational, Funny, Truth
Harry S. Truman, Ralph Keyes (1995). “Wit and wisdom of Harry Truman”, Harpercollins

Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don't ever apologize for anything.

Harry S. Truman
Patriotic, Apology, Political

Dictatorship, by whatever name, is founded on the doctrine that the individual amounts to nothing; that the State is the only one that counts; and that men and women and children were put on earth solely for the purpose of serving the state.

Harry S. Truman
Children, Men, Names
United States. President (1945-1953 : Truman), Harry S. Truman (1962). “Harry S. Truman: Containing the Public Messages, Speeches, and Statements of the President, 1945-53”

A President needs political understanding to run the government, but he may be elected without it.

Harry S. Truman
Running, Government, Cynical
Harry S. Truman (1956). “Years of trial and hope”

It doesn't matter how big a ranch you own or how many cows you brand, the size of your funeral is still gonna depend on the weather.

Harry S. Truman
Humility, Weather, Funeral

When the Liberals said they were going to create a million new jobs, I didn't think they were all going to be tax collectors. If you can't convince them, confuse them.

Harry S. Truman
Jobs, Thinking, New Job

I wonder how many times you have to be hit on the head before you find out who's hitting you? It's about time that the people of America realized what the Republicans have been doing to them.

Harry S. Truman
America, People, Hitting
Harry S. Truman, Steve Neal (2003). “Miracle of Forty-eight”, p.72, SIU Press

A society will be judged by how it treats its weakest members

Harry S. Truman
Treats, Members, Judged

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.

Harry S. Truman
Change, Attitude, Optimistic

Democrats work to help people who need help. That other party, they work for people who don't need help. That's all there is to it.

Harry S. Truman
Party, People, Needs

Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.

Harry S. Truman
Happiness, Attitude, Book

I have little patience with people who take the Bill of Rights for granted. The Bill of Rights, contained in the first ten amendments to the Constitution, is every American's guarantee of freedom.

Harry S. Truman
Rights, People, Guarantees
Harry S. Truman (1956). “Memoirs”

I sincerely regret the unfortunate choice of language which I used in my letter of August 29 to Congressman McDonough concerning the Marine Corps.

Harry S. Truman
Regret, Marine, Choices
"Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1950, Volume 6".

Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.

Harry S. Truman
Perfect, Action, Imperfect

The President is always abused. If he isn't, he isn't doing anything.

Harry S. Truman
Political, President, Politics

If you can't convince them, confuse them.

Harry S. Truman
Witty, Business, Silly
Harry S. Truman, Steve Neal (2003). “Miracle of Forty-eight”, p.139, SIU Press

There are always a lot of people so afraid of rocking the boat that they stop rowing. We can never get ahead that way.

Harry S. Truman
Inspirational, Confidence, Courage
Harry S. Truman (1960). “Freedom and equality, addresses”