Ashamed Quote by Eugene V. Debs
“If you go to the city of Washington, and you examine the pages of the Congressional Directory, you will find that almost all of those corporation lawyers and cowardly politicians, members of Congress, and misrepresentatives of the masses - you will find that almost all of them claim, in glowing terms, that they have risen from the ranks to places of eminence and distinction. I am very glad that I cannot make that claim for myself. I would be ashamed to admit that I had risen from the ranks. When I rise it will be with the ranks, and not from the ranks.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Labor rally, 1912
The speaker critiques the claim of self‑made success among politicians and lawyers, expressing humility and solidarity with the working class.
In simple terms: Politicians claim self‑made success, but the speaker rejects that narrative.
Key Takeaway
Stay grounded and align with the masses.
Themes
politics
class
integrity
Mood
skeptical
determined
Type
political
social
When to use this quote
- labor organizing
- public speaking
- educational forums
Key Concepts
socialism
elitism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does claiming self‑made status affect public trust?
- What alternative narratives empower workers?
A Different Perspective
Self‑promotion can mask systemic privilege.
![“I left that church with rich and royal hatred of the priest as a person, and a loathing for the church as an institution, and I vowed that I would never go inside a church again. [Eugene V. Debs, describing his teenage reaction to a hellfire lecture by a priest]” quote by Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/434/eugene-v-debs-7814_church_i-left-that-church-with-rich-and-royal-h_71485.jpg)
