Top Eugene V. Debs Quotes - Quotesmemo.com

Eugene V. Debs Biography

Eugene Victor Debs (November 5, 1855 – October 20, 1926) was an American union leader, one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or the Wobblies), and five times the candidate of the Socialist Party of America for President of the United States. Through his presidential candidacies, as well as his work with labor movements, Debs eventually became one of the best-known socialists living in the United States.

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Eugene V. Debs Quotes

Labor is today the most vital and potential power this planet has ever known, and its historic mission is as certain of ultimate realization as is the setting of the sun

Labour Movement, Organized Labor, Power, Realization, Setting, Vital

If it had not been for the discontent of a few fellows who had not been satisfied with their conditions, you would still be living in caves. Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization. Progress is born of agitation. It is agitation or stagnation.

Agitation, Born, Civilization, Conditions, Intelligent, Life

When I rise it will be with the ranks and not from the ranks.

Labor Union, Ranks, Rise, Solidarity

The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I am for humanity. We have been cursed with the reign of gold long enough. Money constitutes no proper basis of civilization. The time has come to regenerate society — we are on the eve of universal change.

Civilization, Come, Constitutes, Issues, Long, Proper

The economic owning class is always the political ruling class.

Class, Economic, Political, Ruling

Be true to yourself and you cannot be a traitor to any good cause on earth.

Be True To Yourself, Causes, Earth, Traitor, True

The protection the government owes you and fails to provide, you are morally bound to provide for yourselves.

Government, Protection, Failing, Morally, Bound

A man should take to himself no discomfort from an opinion expressed or implied by his adversary, but it is difficult, and oftentimes humiliating to attempt to justify the kindness of one's friends.

Difficult, Discomfort, Humiliating, Kindness, Men, Opinion

I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth, and I am a citizen of the world.

Citizen, Countries Of The World, Country, Fight, Fighting, World

What can Labor do for itself? The answer is not difficult. Labor can organize, it can unify; it can consolidate its forces. This done, it can demand and command.

Answers, Consolidate, Demand, Done, Unify

In all the history of organized labor, from the earliest times to the present day, no body of union workingmen ever served in a more humiliating and debasing role than that in which the railway unions appear at this very hour before the American people and the world.

Day, Debasing, People, Roles, Unions, World

It is when you have done your work honestly, when you have contributed your share to the common fund that you begin to live.

Done, Fund, Helping Others, Share, Volunteer

Some go to prison for stealing, and others for believing that a better system can be provided and maintained than one that makes it necessary for a man to steal in order to live.

Believe, Maintained, Man, Men, Order, Steal

The prison, above all others, should be the most human of institutions.

Human, Institutions, Prison, Should

I may not be able to say all I think, but I am not going to say anything I do not think.

May, Say, Say Anything, Think, Thinking

I'd rather vote for something I want and not get it than vote for something I don't want, and get it.

Choices, Political, Vote, Voting

We want a system in which the worker shall get what he produces and the capitalist shall produce what he gets.

Capitalist, Economy, Produce, System, Want, Worker

When great changes occur in history, when great principles are involved, as a rule the majority are wrong.

Democracies Have, Freedom, Majority Rule, Occur, Principles, Rule

Yes, I am my brother's keeper. I am under a moral obligation to him that is inspired, not by any maudlin sentimentality but by the higher duty I owe myself. What would you think me if I were capable of seating myself at a table and gorging myself with food and saw about me the children of my fellow beings starving to death.

Brother, Children, Gorging, Inspired, Sentimentality, Thinking

You need at this time especially to know that you are fit for something better than slavery and cannon fodder.

Cannon, Fit, Fodder, Needs, Slavery, Time

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