Wendell Willkie Quotes

A collection of quotes by Wendell Willkie.

Wendell Willkie was an American lawyer, businessman, and politician, born on February 18, 1892, in Elwood, Indiana. He rose to prominence as the Republican nominee for the U.S. presidency in 1940, challenging the incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt during a time of global uncertainty and looming war.

Prior to entering politics, Willkie had a successful career in the corporate world, where he held top positions in various industries, including utilities and public utilities. His remarkable rise from a small-town lawyer to corporate executive earned him a reputation as a skilled administrator and a champion of free-market principles.

In 1940, Willkie emerged as a dark horse candidate in the Republican Party's presidential primaries. Despite his lack of political experience, his eloquent speeches and charisma resonated with many Americans who were disillusioned with Roosevelt's policies. Willkie's campaign focused on promoting unity and non-partisanship, and he advocated for increased aid to Britain, which was under Nazi aggression.

Although Willkie lost the election to Roosevelt, he played a crucial role in reshaping the Republican Party's stance on international affairs and social equality. Following his defeat, he continued to be an influential public figure, authoring articles and books that advocated for international cooperation and the prevention of totalitarianism.

Wendell Willkie's unexpected rise to prominence exemplifies the power of determination and the potential for political outsiders to make a lasting impact on national discourse. He passed away on October 8, 1944, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering figure in American politics.

When we talk of freedom and opportunity for all nations, the

When we talk of freedom and opportunity for all nations, the mocking paradoxes in our own society become so clear they can no longer be ignored.

Wendell Willkie


For now more than ever, we must keep in the forefront of our

For now more than ever, we must keep in the forefront of our minds the fact that whenever we take away the liberties of those we hate, we are opening the way to loss of liberty for those we love.

Wendell Willkie

Love Liberty Mind

If the British Fleet were lost or captured, the Atlantic mig

If the British Fleet were lost or captured, the Atlantic might be dominated by Germany, a power hostile to our way of life, controlling in that event most of the ships and shipbuilding facilities of Europe.

Wendell Willkie

Life Power

But it required a disastrous, internecine war to bring this

But it required a disastrous, internecine war to bring this question of human freedom to a crisis, and the process of striking the shackles from the slave was accomplished in a single hour.

Wendell Willkie

Freedom

If we want to talk about freedom, we must mean freedom for o

If we want to talk about freedom, we must mean freedom for others as well as ourselves, and we must mean freedom for everyone inside our frontiers as well as outside.

Wendell Willkie

Freedom

History shows that our way of life is the stronger way. From

History shows that our way of life is the stronger way. From it has come more wealth, more industry, more happiness, more human enlightenment than from any other way.

Wendell Willkie

Happiness

Education is the mother of leadership.

Education is the mother of leadership.

Wendell Willkie

Education

In no direction that we turn do we find ease or comfort. If

In no direction that we turn do we find ease or comfort. If we are honest and if we have the will to win we find only danger, hard work and iron resolution.

Wendell Willkie

Work

We must honestly face our relationship with Great Britain.

We must honestly face our relationship with Great Britain.

Wendell Willkie

Relationship

Emancipation came to the colored race in America as a war me

Emancipation came to the colored race in America as a war measure. It was an act of military necessity. Manifestly it would have come without war, in the slower process of humanitarian reform and social enlightenment.

Wendell Willkie

War

Freedom is an indivisible word. If we want to enjoy it, and

Freedom is an indivisible word. If we want to enjoy it, and fight for it, we must be prepared to extend it to everyone, whether they are rich or poor, whether they agree with us or not, no matter what their race or the color of their skin.

Wendell Willkie

Freedom

It is from weakness that people reach for dictators and conc

It is from weakness that people reach for dictators and concentrated government power. Only the strong can be free. And only the productive can be strong.

Wendell Willkie

Government