Robert La Follette was a prominent American politician who served as Governor of Wisconsin and later as a United States Senator. He was known for his progressive ideas and advocacy for social and political reforms. La Follette’s speeches and writings are still relevant today and offer insight into his vision for a more equitable and just society. In this article, we have compiled a collection of inspiring and thought-provoking Robert La Follette quotes that highlight his commitment to democracy, equality, and the power of the people.
La Follette was a firm believer in the power of the people to effect change. He saw democracy as a force that could uplift society and ensure that every voice was heard. His quotes reflect his passion for political engagement and the importance of citizens in shaping their own destinies. Through his words, La Follette encourages us to take an active role in our communities and fight for the principles we believe in.
As you read through these Robert La Follette quotes, allow them to inspire you to take action and make a difference in the world around you. Let them serve as a reminder that the power for change lies within each one of us, and it is our duty to use it for the betterment of society.
Read these Robert La Follette quotes:
“Democracy is a life, and involves continual struggle.”
“The cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy.”
“The progress of the world depends almost entirely upon education.”
“No republic is safe that tolerates a privileged class, or denies to any of its citizens equal rights and equal means to maintain them.”
“The people do not lack strength; they lack the conscious will to use it.”
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”
“The greatest of all mistakes is to do nothing because you think you can only do a little.”
“Democracy, like any other honest political system, must be reformed and reinvigorated constantly by new ideas and new leaders.”
“The inspiration of a noble cause involving human interests wide and far, enables men to do things they did not dream themselves capable of before, and which they were not capable of alone. The consciousness of belonging, vitally, to something beyond individuality; of being part of a personality that reaches we know not where, in space and time, greatens the heart to the limit of the blood’s beat.”
“If we are to have a government by the people, for the people, and a government in which they can take a part, we must have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
“The great curse of American life is the sentiment of individualism. Individualism is the enemy of democracy. It is the enemy of the cooperative spirit.”
“The citizen who thinks he sees that the commonwealth’s political clothes are worn out, and yet holds his peace and does not agitate for a new suit, is disloyal; he is a traitor.”
“The only security for the American people today, or for any people, is to be found through the control of the economic forces which govern their lives. We must control the sources of their employment, and the conditions under which they work. It is the control of these great, fundamental, basic things to which we must look if we are to reestablish democracy in America.”
“Our government is the servant of the people, and not their master. Our government can continue to be a representative government only so long as it is administered in the interest of the people, and not in the interest of special privilege.”
“Democracy is a state of mind. It cannot be divorced from a belief in the dignity of humanity. It cannot be divorced from a belief in the worth of the individual.”
“The vital need for the protection of the people’s welfare against the tyranny of powerful private interests has led me to advocate the progressive principles which I have for so long been identified.”
“I am for the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and I shall never cease to advocate that principle.”
“The essence of autocracy is that the few shall govern the many. The essence of democracy is that the many shall govern the few.”
“Democracy is a life, and involves continual struggle. It is only as those of every generation who love democracy resist with all their might encroachments upon it that the ideals of representative government shall always be secure.”
“The voters must maintain their power over the government. The day that the people lose their power, or become indifferent to its exercise, is the day that the government becomes the government of the boss and the privileged class.”
These Robert La Follette quotes are just a glimpse into the wisdom and passion of a true champion of democracy and equality. Let them inspire you to stand up for what you believe in and work towards creating a society that values the voices and well-being of every individual.
