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Portrait of Norman Thomas

Norman Thomas

(1884–1968) Socialist United States

22 quotes in 171 categories

Norman Thomas was a socialist from the United States, best known for Socialism re-examined.

Quick Facts About Norman Thomas

Born: November 20, 1884
Died: December 19, 1968
Nationality: United States
Profession: Socialist
Notable works: Socialism re-examined

About Norman Thomas

Norman Mattoon Thomas was an American Presbyterian minister, political activist, and perennial candidate for president. He achieved fame as a socialist and pacifist, and was the Socialist Party of America's candidate for president in six consecutive elections between 1928 and 1948.

Biography source: Wikipedia

Awards & Honors

War Resisters League Peace Award Gandhi Peace Award Eugene V. Debs Award

Quotes by Norman Thomas

I always get more applause than votes.

Applause

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Rebellion per se is not a virtue. If it were, we would have some heroes on very low levels.

Hero

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The difference between Democrats and Republicans is: Democrats have accepted some ideas of Socialism cheerfully, while Republicans have accepted them reluctantly

Accepted

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The central law of all wholesome life is reciprocity, mutuality. ... But the group is valuable only as it permits personalities, not…

Groups

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Peace will never be entirely secure until men everywhere have learned to conquer poverty without sacrificing liberty or security.

Conquer

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The struggle is confused; our knight wins by no clean thrust of lance or sword, but the dragon somehow poops out, and…

Democracy

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I walk where I choose to walk.

Walks

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To us Americans much has been given; of us much is required. With all our faults and mistakes, it is our strength…

Failure

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You may use different sorts of sentences and illustrations before different sorts of audiences, but you don't -- if you are wise…

Audience

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The Socialist Party will no longer be running a candidate for president. The Democratic Party is leading this country to Socialism much…

Candidates

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I am not the champion of lost causes, but the champion of causes not yet won.

Causes

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The very existence of armaments and great armies psychologically accustoms us to accept the philosophy of militarism. They inevitably increase fear and…

Accepting

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If you want a symbolic gesture, don't burn the flag, wash it.

Symbolic

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“The difference between Democrats and Republicans is: Democrats have accepted some ideals of socialism cheerfully, while Republicans have accepted them reluctantly.”

Democracy

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The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist…

America

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All our rulers have said that war is unthinkable, and then we think about it almost all the time. We've got to…

Rulers

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The secret of a good life is to have the right loyalties and hold them in the right scale of values.

Good life

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Harry Truman proves that old adage that any man can become President of the United States.

Adages

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Dissent... is a right essential to any concept of the dignity and freedom of the individual; it is essential to the search…

Authority

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He who would save liberty must put his trust in democracy.

Democracy

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There are some plain common-sense considerations applicable to all these attempts at world planning. They can be briefly stated: 1. To talk…

Blueprints

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The doctrine of thrift for the poor is dumb and cruel, like advising them to try and lift themselves by their bootstraps.

Bootstraps

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