Eugene Debs Quotes

A collection of quotes by Eugene Debs.

Eugene Debs was a prominent American labor leader and socialist activist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born on November 5, 1855, in Terre Haute, Indiana. Debs began his career as a labor organizer in the railroad industry and went on to become one of the most influential figures in the American labor movement.

In 1893, Debs helped found the American Railway Union (ARU), an organization that sought to unite all railway workers across different trades into one powerful union. He rose to national fame during the Pullman Strike of 1894, where the ARU led a boycott against the Pullman Company, resulting in a nationwide railroad shutdown. The federal government intervened, leading to Debs being imprisoned for his involvement in the strike.

During his time in prison, Debs developed a strong belief in socialism and became a vocal advocate for workers' rights, economic equality, and social justice. He went on to establish the Socialist Party of America in 1901 and became its presidential candidate five times between 1900 and 1920.

Debs' ideas and impassioned speeches played a crucial role in shaping the labor movement and the fight for workers' rights in the United States. He firmly believed in the power of collective action and argued for the rights of workers against capitalist exploitation. Despite facing numerous challenges, including persecution and imprisonment, Debs remained a dedicated champion for the laboring class until his death on October 20, 1926, in Elmhurst, Illinois.

Wars throughout history have been waged for conquest and plu

Wars throughout history have been waged for conquest and plunder.... the working class who fight all the battles, the working class who make the supreme sacrifices, the working class who freely shed their blood and furnish their corpses, have never yet had a voice in either declaring war or making peace. It is the ruling class that invariably does both. They alone declare war and they alone make peace....They are continually talking about their patriotic duty. It is not their but your patriotic duty that they are concerned about. There is a decided difference. Their patriotic duty never takes them to the firing line or chucks them into the trenches.

Eugene Debs

War

The most heroic word in all languages is revolution.

The most heroic word in all languages is revolution.

Eugene Debs

Revolution

When great changes occur in history, when great principles a

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

Eugene Debs

Democracy

While there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a c

While there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.

Eugene Debs

Protest