Dorothy Day Quotes

A collection of quotes by Dorothy Day.

Dorothy Day (1897-1980) was an American journalist, social activist, and Catholic convert who dedicated her life to advocating for the poor and marginalized. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she grew up in a middle-class family and initially pursued a career in journalism. Day's early years were marked by a quest for meaning and a desire for social justice.

In 1932, Day co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement with Peter Maurin, aiming to combine her passionate commitment to social change with her newfound Catholic faith. The movement established "Houses of Hospitality" to provide food, shelter, and aid to the homeless and needy. Day's activism often led to encounters with the law due to her strong beliefs in nonviolence and civil disobedience.

Throughout her life, Dorothy Day tirelessly championed pacifism, worker's rights, women's suffrage, and other social causes. She promoted the concept of "personalism," emphasizing the dignity of every individual and the importance of personal relationships. Day's writing and public speaking, including her newspaper "The Catholic Worker," played a vital role in spreading awareness about social injustices.

In recognition of her work, Day was awarded the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award in 1971. Today, she is considered a prominent figure in American Catholicism and is widely admired for her dedication to social justice and her unwavering belief in the power of compassion and love.

Certainly we disagree with the Communist Party, as we disagr

Certainly we disagree with the Communist Party, as we disagree with other political parties who are trying to maintain the American way of life.

Don't call me a saint. I don't want to be dismissed so easil

Don't call me a saint. I don't want to be dismissed so easily.

Inspirational Religious Sainthood

God put us here to go through this kind of mental gymnastics

God put us here to go through this kind of mental gymnastics, and He certainly put us here to enjoy our sexual lives. He put us here to ask, to try and find out the best way possible to live with our neighbors. Of course, you can go through a life not asking, and that's the tragedy: so many lives lived in moral blindness.

God Love Religion Faith

Don't worry about being effective. Just concentrate on being

Don't worry about being effective. Just concentrate on being faithful to the truth.

Success Truth Failure Effectiveness

As Dostoevski said: 'Love in action is a harsh and dreadful

As Dostoevski said: 'Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams.

Love Inspiration

Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the

Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul.

The legal battle against segregation is won, but the communi

The legal battle against segregation is won, but the community battle goes on.

I believe that we must reach our brother, never toning down

I believe that we must reach our brother, never toning down our fundamental oppositions, but meeting him when he asks to be met, with a reason for the faith that is in us, as well as with a loving sympathy for them as brothers.

It is easier to have faith that God will support each House

It is easier to have faith that God will support each House of Hospitality and Farming Commune and supply our needs in the way of food and money to pay bills, than it is to keep a strong, hearty, living faith in each individual around us - to see Christ in him.

Our faith is stronger than death, our philosophy is firmer t

Our faith is stronger than death, our philosophy is firmer than flesh, and the spread of the Kingdom of God upon the earth is more sublime and more compelling.

Women think with their whole bodies and they see things as a

Women think with their whole bodies and they see things as a whole more than men do.

Men are beginning to realize that they are not individuals b

Men are beginning to realize that they are not individuals but persons in society, that man alone is weak and adrift, that he must seek strength in common action.

I have long since come to believe that people never mean hal

I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and that it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.

Love casts out fear, but we have to get over the fear in ord

Love casts out fear, but we have to get over the fear in order to get close enough to love them.

How necessary it is to cultivate a spirit of joy. It is a ps

How necessary it is to cultivate a spirit of joy. It is a psychological truth that the physical acts of reverence and devotion make one feel devout. The courteous gesture increases one's respect for others. To act lovingly is to begin to feel loving, and certainly to act joyfully brings joy to others which in turn makes one feel joyful. I believe we are called to the duty of delight.