United States

Explore 2893 quotes by people from United States

At eighteen our convictions are hills from which we look; at forty-five they are caves in which we hide.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

More information about this quote

Topic

Stages of life Aging Convictions

Author

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Source

Bernice Bobs Her Hair

Medium

Short story

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1920 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. "Bernice Bobs Her Hair." Saturday Evening Post, May 1920.

Current Citation

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. "Bernice Bobs Her Hair." F. Scott Fitzgerald: Novels and Stories 1920-1922, edited by Jackson Bryer. Library of America, 2000.

Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote

Topic

Newspapers Media

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Colonel Edward Carrington. 16 Jan. 1787.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Col. Edward Carrington, Jan. 16, 1787." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Including the Autobiography, The Declaration of Independence & His Public and Private Letters, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

These capitalists generally act harmoniously, and in concert, to fleece the people, and now, that they have got into a quarrel with themselves, we are called upon to appropriate the people's money to settle the quarrel.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Too big to fail Bailouts Socialism for the rich Capitalism

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Speech in the Illinois Legislature Concerning the State Bank

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1837 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Speech in the Illinois Legislature." 11 Jan. 1837, Vandalia, IL, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Speech in the Illinois Legislature January 11, 1837." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation: Yes, we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights. Yes, we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness. Yes, we can. It was the call of workers who organized, women who reached for the ballot, a president who chose the moon as our new frontier, and a king who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the promised land.

Barack Obama

More information about this quote

Topic

American character Progress

Speaker

Barack Obama

Source

Speeches of Barack Obama

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

2008 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Obama, Barack. Remarks on New Hampshire primary night. New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary. 8 Jan. 2008, Nashua, NH, USA.

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.

Abraham Lincoln

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More information about this quote

Topic

Masters and slaves Slavery Democracy Equality

Author

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Journals of Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Personal journal

Language

English

Time

1858 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Definition of Democracy." 1 Aug. 1858?

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "On Slavery and Democracy, 1858?" Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

Courage is the price that Life exacts for granting peace,
The soul that knows it not, knows no release
From little things.

Amelia Earhart

More information about this quote

Topic

Courage

Author

Amelia Earhart

Source

Courage

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1928 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Earhart, Amelia. Quoted in "Courage." Who is Amelia Earhart?, written by Marion Perkins. Survey Graphic, 1 July 1928.

If mankind were to resolve to agree in no institution of government, until every part of it had been adjusted to the most exact standard of perfection, society would soon become a general scene of anarchy, and the world a desert.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 65

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Read Federalist No. 65 at the Library of Congress website

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Topic

Political compromise Political theory Politics

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Federalist 65 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 65: The Powers of the Senate Continued." New York Packet, 7 Mar. 1788.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. 65: Other powers: consent to executive appointments; impeachments.--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

The mind is an excellent servant but a terrible master.

David Foster Wallace

2005 Kenyon College commencement address

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Topic

Self-control Mindfulness The mind

Speaker

David Foster Wallace

Source

2005 Kenyon College commencement address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Commencement address

Language

English

Time

2005 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Wallace, David Foster. Commencement address at Kenyon College. Commencement. 21 May 2005, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH, USA.

Current Citation

Wallace, David Foster. This is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion about Living a Compassionate Life. Little, Brown and Company, 2009.

I am a Negro:
Black as the night is black,
Black like the depths of my Africa.

Langston Hughes

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More information about this quote

Topic

Black identity

Author

Langston Hughes

Source

Negro

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Declaration

Language

English

Time

1926 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Hughes, Langston. "Negro." The Weary Blues. Alfred A. Knopf, 1926, I. 1.

Current Citation

Hughes, Langston. "Proem." The Weary Blues. Alfred A. Knopf, 2015, I. 1.

It is in the thirties that we want friends. In the forties we know they won't save us any more than love did.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

More information about this quote

Topic

Aging

Author

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Source

Notebooks of F. Scott Fitzgerald

Medium

Personal journal

Language

English

Time

1940 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. "Notebook O: Observations." The Crack-Up, edited by Edmund Wilson. New Directions, 2009. Originally published in Notebook O, c. 1940.

The Negro folk-song-the rhythmic cry of the slave-stands today not simply as the sole American music, but as the most beautiful expression of human experience born this side the seas. It has been neglected, it has been, and is, half despised, and above all it has been persistently mistaken and misunderstood; but notwithstanding, it still remains as the singular spiritual heritage of the nation and the greatest gift of the Negro people.

W.E.B. Du Bois

The Souls of Black Folk

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Topic

Black music American music

Author

W.E.B. Du Bois

Source

The Souls of Black Folk

Genre

Sociology

Language

English

Time

1903 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Du Bois, William Edward Burghardt. The Souls of Black Folk: Essays and Sketches. A. C. McClurg & Co., 1903, ch. 14.

Current Citation

Du Bois, William Edward Burghardt. The Souls of Black Folk, edited by Brent Hayes Edwards. Oxford University Press, 2009, ch. 14.

In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

More information about this quote

Topic

Battle Preparation War

Speaker

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Language

English

Time

1962 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Eisenhower, Dwight D. Quoted in Six Crises, written by Richard Nixon. Doubleday, 1962.

Say it loud: "I'm Black and I'm Proud."
Some people say we've got a lot of malice,
Some say it's a lot of nerve.
But I say we won't quit moving
Until we get what we deserve.

James Brown

Say It Loud

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More information about this quote

Topic

Black pride

Speaker

James Brown

Source

Say It Loud

Medium

Song

Genre

Soul music

Language

English

Time

1968 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Brown, James and Alfred Ellis. Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud. Performed by James Brown. King Records, 1968.

The happiest day, the happiest hour
My seared and blighted heart hath known,
The highest hope of pride and power,
I feel hath flown.

Edgar Allan Poe

Tamerlane and Other Poems

More information about this quote

Topic

The best is over

Author

Edgar Allan Poe

Source

The Happiest Day Tamerlane and Other Poems

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1827 1820s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Happiest Day." Tamerlane and Other Poems. Boston: Calvin F. S. Thomas, 1827, st. 1.

Current Citation

Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Happiest Day." Edgar Allen Poe: Poetry and Tales, edited by Patrick F. Quinn. Library of America, 1984, st. 1.

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help.

Ronald Reagan

More information about this quote

Topic

Government Political theory

Speaker

Ronald Reagan

Medium

Press conference

Language

English

Time

1986 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Reagan, Ronald. Press conference in Chicago. Press conference. 12 Aug. 1986, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chicago, IL, USA.

Well, when the president does it…that means that it is not illegal.

Richard Nixon

More information about this quote

Topic

Presidential power Executive power American Presidency American politics

Speaker

Richard Nixon

Source

Interview with David Frost

Medium

Interview

Language

English

Time

1977 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Nixon, Richard. "Nixon Interviews." Interviewed by David Frost. ABC, 19 May 1977, pt. 3.

The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

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More information about this quote

Topic

Economic inequality Rich vs. poor

Speaker

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1937 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "Second Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1937, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "Second Inaugral Address: Washington, DC, January 20, 1937." Great Speeches, edited by John Grafton. Dover, 1999.

It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Essays: First Series (Emerson)

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Topic

Thinking for oneself

Author

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Source

Self-Reliance Essays: First Series (Emerson)

Medium

Essay

Language

English

Time

1841 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Self-Reliance." Essays: First Series. Boston: James Munroe and Company, 1841.

Current Citation

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Self-Reliance (1841)." The Portable Emerson, edited by Jeffrey S. Cramer. Penguin Classics, 2014.

It is ESSENTIAL to such a government that it be derived from the great body of the society, not from an inconsiderable proportion, or a favored class of it; otherwise a handful of tyrannical nobles, exercising their oppressions by a delegation of their powers, might aspire to the rank of republicans, and claim for their government the honorable title of republic.

James Madison

Federalist 39

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More information about this quote

Topic

Democratic theory Democracy Political theory Politics

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 39 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 39: The Conformity of the Plan to Republican Principles." Independent Journal, 16 Jan. 1788.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 39: Constitution is strictly republican; is both federal and national.--Madison." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States.

James Madison

Federalist 10

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More information about this quote

Topic

Political faction Federalism American politics

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 10 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 10: The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection." Daily Advertiser, 22 Nov. 1787.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 10: An extensive republic a remedy for mischiefs of faction.--Madison." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.