--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: President Lyndon Johnson's high spirits…" description: "\"President Lyndon Johnson's high spirits were marked as he circulated among the many guests whom he had invited to witness an event he confidently felt ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/martin-luther-king-jr-127_alabama_president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits_319785.jpg" --- # President Lyndon Johnson's high spirits were marked as he… ![“President Lyndon Johnson's high spirits were marked as he circulated among the many guests whom he had invited to witness an event he confidently felt to be historic, the signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act… The bill that lay on the polished mahogany desk was born in violence in Selma, Alabama…” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/martin-luther-king-jr-127_alabama_president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits_319785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/martin-luther-king-jr-127_alabama_president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits_319785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/martin-luther-king-jr-127_alabama_president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits_319785.jpg) > “President Lyndon Johnson's high spirits were marked as he circulated among the many guests whom he had invited to witness an event he confidently felt to be historic, the signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act… The bill that lay on the polished mahogany desk was born in violence in Selma, Alabama, where a stubborn sheriff... had stumbled against the future.” [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects the hopeful optimism of President Johnson during a pivotal civil‑rights moment, acknowledging the violent struggle that preceded the legislation. **In simple terms:** Johnson felt hopeful at a historic civil‑rights signing despite past violence. Key Takeaway Recognize progress while remembering the struggle. Themes civil rights leadership optimism historical change Mood hopeful reflective serious Type historical political inspirational When to use this quote - policy signing - public speeches - civil‑rights marches Key Concepts social justice political courage collective memory Questions to Reflect On - How does optimism affect our view of historical struggles? - What responsibilities follow historic legislative victories? A Different Perspective Progress can be fragile; optimism may overlook ongoing challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Mahogany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mahogany/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President lyndon johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-lyndon-johnson/) [Right to vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-vote/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) [Voting rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting-rights/) [Voting rights act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting-rights-act/) ## Related quotes > [President Lyndon Johnson was very, very unpredictable. We never knew for sure what he is going to do next, and he preferred to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-hill/president-lyndon-johnson-was-very-very-unpredictable-we-never-knew/) [Clint Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-hill/) > [In the last 100 years only Presidents George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford lost their bids for reelection. President Lyndon Johnson did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/in-the-last-100-years-only-presidents-george-h-w-bush-jimmy-carter/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [It may not be too late, whatever happens, if our President, Lyndon Johnson, knew the truth from me. But if I am eliminated, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ruby/it-may-not-be-too-late-whatever-happens-if-our-president-lyndon/) [Jack Ruby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ruby/) > [Democrats and Republicans reauthorized the 1965 Voting Rights Act unanimously in 2006. In two rulings since then, the Supreme Court has taken a sledgehammer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/democrats-and-republicans-reauthorized-the-1965-voting-rights-act/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [The Supreme Court 2013 ruling that gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act set in motion what many feared: the subjection of minorities, seniors, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-veasey/the-supreme-court-2013-ruling-that-gutted-the-1965-voting-rights-act/) [Marc Veasey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-veasey/) > [“The 1965 Voting Rights Act greatly extended federal power in the United States. A frankly regional measure, it took aim at Deep South states…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/the-1965-voting-rights-act-greatly-extended-federal-power-in-the/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [Think of all the hate there is in Red China, then take a look around to Selma, Alabama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcguire/think-of-all-the-hate-there-is-in-red-china-then-take-a-look-around/) [Barry McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcguire/) > [But something stirred across the country because of what happened in Selma, Alabama, because some folks were willing to march across a bridge. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/but-something-stirred-across-the-country-because-of-what-happened-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There was something stirring across the country because of what happened in Selma, Alabama, because some folks are willing to march across a bridge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-was-something-stirring-across-the-country-because-of-what/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I don't understand it, how President Johnson can send troops to Vietnam and cannot send troops to Selma, Alabama, to protect people whose only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-don-t-understand-it-how-president-johnson-can-send-troops-to/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [On March 7, 1965, some 600 civil rights activists marched in Selma, Alabama, demanding an end to racial discrimination. The demonstration was led by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/on-march-7-1965-some-600-civil-rights-activists-marched-in-selma/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [In Selma, Alabama, in 1965, only 2.1 percent of blacks of voting age were registered to vote. The only place you could attempt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/in-selma-alabama-in-1965-only-2-1-percent-of-blacks-of-voting-age/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [At times history and fate meet at a single time in a single place to shape a turning point in man's unending search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/at-times-history-and-fate-meet-at-a-single-time-in-a-single-place-to/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [There is no Constitutional issue here. The command of the Constitution is plain. There is no moral issue. It is wrong - deadly wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-no-constitutional-issue-here-the-command-of-the-constitution/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/racial-discrimination-in-elections-in-texas-is-no-mere-historical/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) ## More by Martin Luther King, Jr > [The strong man holds in a living blend strongly marked opposites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-strong-man-holds-in-a-living-blend-strongly-marked-opposites/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. ... We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/our-nation-was-born-in-genocide-when-it-embraced-the-doctrine-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I’ve been to the Mountaintop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-ve-been-to-the-mountaintop/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The supreme task is to organize and unite people so that their anger becomes a transforming force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-supreme-task-is-to-organize-and-unite-people-so-that-their-anger/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The great issue of life is to harness the drum major instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-great-issue-of-life-is-to-harness-the-drum-major-instinct/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somebody-must-have-sense-enough-and-morality-enough-to-cut-off-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Darkness is only driven out with light, not more darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/darkness-is-only-driven-out-with-light-not-more-darkness/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [What seems so necessary today may not even be desirable tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/what-seems-so-necessary-today-may-not-even-be-desirable-tomorrow/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The Negro cannot win the respect of his oppressor by acquiescing; he merely increases the oppressor's arrogance and contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-negro-cannot-win-the-respect-of-his-oppressor-by-acquiescing-he/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The majority of the Negroes who took part in the year-long boycott of Montgomery's buses were poor and untutored; but they understood the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-majority-of-the-negroes-who-took-part-in-the-year-long-boycott-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity and it has worth,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/whenever-you-are-engaged-in-work-that-serves-humanity-and-is-for-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-have-a-dream-that-one-day-even-the-state-of-mississippi-a-desert/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Explore all 1,210 Martin Luther King, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More Alabama quotes > [Alabama soldiers, all I ask of you is to keep up with the Texans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/alabama-soldiers-all-i-ask-of-you-is-to-keep-up-with-the-texans/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/) [Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/) > [I was haunted always by my other life-my drab room in the Bronx, my square foot of the subway, my fixation upon the day's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-was-haunted-always-by-my-other-life-my-drab-room-in-the-bronx-my/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [The great thing that I appreciate - the fact that my godfather, William 'Sticky' Jackson, was a Tuskegee Airman because my father was first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/the-great-thing-that-i-appreciate-the-fact-that-my-godfather-william/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I'll never forget where I came from, and that my home is forever Sweet Home Alabama!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bearer/i-ll-never-forget-where-i-came-from-and-that-my-home-is-forever-sweet/) Paul Bearer > [Alabama's a football state and you really don't get too many basketball players out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/alabama-s-a-football-state-and-you-really-don-t-get-too-many/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) > [When I was growing up in Alabama in the '50s, even though we were poor and the laws were against blacks, we still had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/when-i-was-growing-up-in-alabama-in-the-50s-even-though-we-were-poor/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [May God continue to bless sweet home Alabama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-ivey/may-god-continue-to-bless-sweet-home-alabama/) [Kay Ivey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-ivey/) > [Because Republicans defected and voted with all the Democrats to reject Jeff Sessions' nomination when they discovered that when he was working as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/because-republicans-defected-and-voted-with-all-the-democrats-to/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [My uncle is a Southern planter. 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That's where she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sela-ward/i-had-an-art-teacher-who-s-the-reason-i-got-there-in-high-school-who/) [Sela Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sela-ward/) Browse all 371 Alabama quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "President Lyndon Johnson's high spirits were marked as he circulated among the many guests whom he had invited to witness an event he confidently felt to be historic, the signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act… The bill that lay on the polished mahogany desk was born in violence in Selma, Alabama, where a stubborn sheriff... had stumbled against the future.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits-were-marked-as-he-circulated/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alabama" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits-were-marked-as-he-circulated/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/martin-luther-king-jr-127_alabama_president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits_319785.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/martin-luther-king-jr-127_alabama_president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits_319785.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/martin-luther-king-jr-127_alabama_president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits_319785.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“President Lyndon Johnson's high spirits were marked as he circulated among the many guests whom he had…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "President Lyndon Johnson's high spirits were...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits-were-marked-as-he-circulated/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits-were-marked-as-he-circulated/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```