Adlai Stevenson Quotes

A collection of quotes by Adlai Stevenson.

Adlai Stevenson was an American politician and diplomat who was born on February 5, 1900, in Los Angeles, California. He was born into a prominent political family, as his father served as the Vice President of the United States from 1893 to 1897 under President Grover Cleveland. Stevenson attended Princeton University and later graduated from Northwestern University's law school.

Stevenson began his political career in the Illinois government, serving as the special assistant to the Secretary of State from 1931 to 1934. He played a vital role in drafting legislation that modernized the state's system of government. In 1948, Stevenson successfully ran for Governor of Illinois, where he gained popularity for his progressive policies, reform initiatives, and eloquent speaking style.

Stevenson's political ambitions led him to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1952 and 1956. Although he lost both times to Dwight D. Eisenhower, he became renowned for his intellectual and articulate speeches. Stevenson later served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 1961 to 1965 under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, where he played a vital role in global politics and conflicts, including the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Adlai Stevenson was well-known for his wit, intelligence, and commitment to peace. He passed away on July 14, 1965, leaving behind a legacy as one of America's most eloquent statesmen and diplomats. His contributions to public service and political discourse continue to be remembered and admired.

There are worse things than losing an election; the worst th

There are worse things than losing an election; the worst thing is to lose one's convictions and not tell the people the truth.

Adlai Stevenson


Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion b

Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.

Adlai Stevenson


We travel together, passengers on a little spaceship, depend

We travel together, passengers on a little spaceship, dependent on it's vulnerable reserves of air and soil, all committed, for our safety, to it's security and peace. Preserved from annihilation only by the care, the work and the love we give our fragile craft.

Adlai Stevenson


With the supermarket as our temple and the singing commercia

With the supermarket as our temple and the singing commercial as our litany, are we likely to fire the world with an irresistible vision of America's exalted purpose and inspiring way of life?

Adlai Stevenson

Life Purpose Vision

What do I believe? As an American I believe in generosity, i

What do I believe? As an American I believe in generosity, in liberty, in the rights of man. These are social and political faiths that are part of me, as they are, I suppose, part of all of us. Such beliefs are easy to express. But part of me too is my relation to all life, my religion. And this is not so easy to talk about. Religious experience is highly intimate and, for me, ready words are not at hand.

Adlai Stevenson

Belief

To me, there is something superbly symbolic in the fact that

To me, there is something superbly symbolic in the fact that an astronaut, sent up as assistant to a series of computers, found that he worked more accurately and more intelligently than they. Inside the capsule, man is still in charge.

Adlai Stevenson

Computers

The New Dealers have all left Washington to make way for the

The New Dealers have all left Washington to make way for the car dealers.

Adlai Stevenson

Car

Laws are never as effective as habits.

Laws are never as effective as habits.

Adlai Stevenson

Habits

The human race has improved everything, but the human race.

The human race has improved everything, but the human race.

Adlai Stevenson

Civilization

Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that some

Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them.

Adlai Stevenson

Words

The whole basis of the United Nations is the right of all na

The whole basis of the United Nations is the right of all nations--great or small--to have weight, to have a vote, to be attended to, to be a part of the twentieth century.

Adlai Stevenson

Nationalism Nation Nationality

Every age needs men who will redeem the time by living with

Every age needs men who will redeem the time by living with a vision of the things that are to be.

Adlai Stevenson

Prophecy

Power corrupts, but lack of power corrupts absolutely.

Power corrupts, but lack of power corrupts absolutely.

Adlai Stevenson

Power

Those who corrupt the public mind are just as evil as those

Those who corrupt the public mind are just as evil as those who steal from the public purse.

Adlai Stevenson

Politics

Nature is indifferent to the survival of the human species,

Nature is indifferent to the survival of the human species, including Americans.

Adlai Stevenson

Survival

On this shrunken globe, men can no longer live as strangers.

On this shrunken globe, men can no longer live as strangers.

Adlai Stevenson

Fellowship

We can chart our future clearly and wisely only when we know

We can chart our future clearly and wisely only when we know the path which has led to the present.

Adlai Stevenson

Understanding

It is always easier to fight for one's principles than to li

It is always easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.

Adlai Stevenson

Principles

In America, anybody can be president. That's one of the risk

In America, anybody can be president. That's one of the risks you take.

Adlai Stevenson

Presidency

A free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular

A free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.

Adlai Stevenson

Society