--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Harry Truman proves that old adage that…" description: "\"Harry Truman proves that old adage that any man can become President of the United States.\" — Norman Thomas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/norman-thomas-24883_adages_harry-truman-proves-that-old-adage-that_2091395.jpg" --- # Harry Truman proves that old adage that any man can become… ![“Harry Truman proves that old adage that any man can become President of the United States.” quote by Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/norman-thomas-24883_adages_harry-truman-proves-that-old-adage-that_2091395.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/norman-thomas-24883_adages_harry-truman-proves-that-old-adage-that_2091395.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/norman-thomas-24883_adages_harry-truman-proves-that-old-adage-that_2091395.jpg) > “Harry Truman proves that old adage that any man can become President of the United States.” [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) ## 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 suggests that anyone, regardless of background, can rise to the highest political office in the U.S. if they have ambition and opportunity. **In simple terms:** Anyone can become U.S. President. Key Takeaway Believe in your potential. Themes ambition politics opportunity Mood inspirational hopeful Type political motivational When to use this quote - political campaigns - career planning - public service - education - inspiration Key Concepts democracy social mobility Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles might limit someone's rise? - How can society reduce those barriers? A Different Perspective Success often depends on resources, networks, and systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adages/) [Harry truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harry-truman/) [Man President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-president-1092411/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-united/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truman/) [Truman Proves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truman-proves-4135480/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [Since I came here I have learned that Chester A. Arthur is one man and the President of the United States is another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-a-arthur/since-i-came-here-i-have-learned-that-chester-a-arthur-is-one-man-and/) [Chester A. Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-a-arthur/) > [Harry Truman wrote scathing letters, but he almost never sent them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/harry-truman-wrote-scathing-letters-but-he-almost-never-sent-them/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [My father's political heroes were Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/my-father-s-political-heroes-were-franklin-roosevelt-and-harry-truman/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [Harry S. Truman had his moods. His birthplace is the only tourist attraction in America where you don't see Japanese with cameras.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-whitney-brown/harry-s-truman-had-his-moods-his-birthplace-is-the-only-tourist/) [A. Whitney Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-whitney-brown/) > [I loved Harry Truman with all my heart and soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-scott/i-loved-harry-truman-with-all-my-heart-and-soul/) [Willard Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-scott/) > [ He \[Harry S. Truman\] loved politicians - even Republicans. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-truman-daniel/he-harry-s-truman-loved-politicians-even-republicans/) [Margaret Truman Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-truman-daniel/) > [Harry Truman was courageous enough to command that racial segregation be ended in the military. I was serving in a submarine in the U.S.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/harry-truman-was-courageous-enough-to-command-that-racial-segregation/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“Roosevelt loved the subtleties of human relations...He was sensitive to nuances in a way that Harry Truman never was and never would be. Truman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/roosevelt-loved-the-subtleties-of-human-relations-he-was-sensitive-to/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Buy only what you really need and cannot do without,” President Harry Truman once said on TV.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-h-naylor/buy-only-what-you-really-need-and-cannot-do-without-president-harry/) [Thomas H Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-h-naylor/) > [Let me tell you, the first president to recognize the state of Israel was Harry Truman, a Democrat. And every president since, Democrat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/let-me-tell-you-the-first-president-to-recognize-the-state-of-israel/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [Some of our finest leaders were not intellectuals at all, and I admire them enormously because they weren't. Harry Truman wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/some-of-our-finest-leaders-were-not-intellectuals-at-all-and-i-admire/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [ “If there had been any formidable body of cannibals in the country he \[Harry Truman\] would have promised to provide them with free missionaries,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/if-there-had-been-any-formidable-body-of-cannibals-in-the-country-he/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [Despite its flaws, the American electoral system has produced Lincoln, the two Roosevelts, and Harry Truman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/despite-its-flaws-the-american-electoral-system-has-produced-lincoln/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [ Leo Crowley, Harry \[Truman\]'s Foreign Economic Administrator, tells Congressmen the theory...: 'If you create good governments in foreign countries, automatically you will have better… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leo-crowley-harry-truman-s-foreign-economic-administrator-tells/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My favourite president, and the one I admired most, was Harry Truman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/my-favourite-president-and-the-one-i-admired-most-was-harry-truman/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) ## More by Norman Thomas > [I always get more applause than votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/i-always-get-more-applause-than-votes/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [Rebellion per se is not a virtue. If it were, we would have some heroes on very low levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/rebellion-per-se-is-not-a-virtue-if-it-were-we-would-have-some-heroes/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [The difference between Democrats and Republicans is: Democrats have accepted some ideas of Socialism cheerfully, while Republicans have accepted them reluctantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/the-difference-between-democrats-and-republicans-is-democrats-have/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [The central law of all wholesome life is reciprocity, mutuality. ... But the group is valuable only as it permits personalities, not automatons, to emerge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/the-central-law-of-all-wholesome-life-is-reciprocity-mutuality-but/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [Peace will never be entirely secure until men everywhere have learned to conquer poverty without sacrificing liberty or security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/peace-will-never-be-entirely-secure-until-men-everywhere-have-learned/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [The struggle is confused; our knight wins by no clean thrust of lance or sword, but the dragon somehow poops out, and decent democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/the-struggle-is-confused-our-knight-wins-by-no-clean-thrust-of-lance/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [I walk where I choose to walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/i-walk-where-i-choose-to-walk/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [To us Americans much has been given; of us much is required. With all our faults and mistakes, it is our strength in support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/to-us-americans-much-has-been-given-of-us-much-is-required-with-all/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [You may use different sorts of sentences and illustrations before different sorts of audiences, but you don't -- if you are wise -- talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/you-may-use-different-sorts-of-sentences-and-illustrations-before/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [The Socialist Party will no longer be running a candidate for president. The Democratic Party is leading this country to Socialism much faster than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/the-socialist-party-will-no-longer-be-running-a-candidate-for/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [I am not the champion of lost causes, but the champion of causes not yet won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/i-am-not-the-champion-of-lost-causes-but-the-champion-of-causes-not/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [The very existence of armaments and great armies psychologically accustoms us to accept the philosophy of militarism. They inevitably increase fear and hate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/the-very-existence-of-armaments-and-great-armies-psychologically/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [If you want a symbolic gesture, don't burn the flag, wash it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/if-you-want-a-symbolic-gesture-don-t-burn-the-flag-wash-it/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [“The difference between Democrats and Republicans is: Democrats have accepted some ideals of socialism cheerfully, while Republicans have accepted them reluctantly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/the-difference-between-democrats-and-republicans-is-democrats-have-2/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/the-american-people-will-never-knowingly-adopt-socialism-but-under/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) [Explore all 22 Norman Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) ## More Adages quotes > [It’s not just the adage ‘write what you know,’ it’s about gathering up all of the knowledge and experience you’ve collected up to now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/it-s-not-just-the-adage-write-what-you-know-it-s-about-gathering-up/) [Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Wise is the tongue, wet of perfect thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-francis/wise-is-the-tongue-wet-of-perfect-thought/) [Black Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-francis/) > [Another lesson about a naive fool who came to Babylon, and found out that the pie don't taste so sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-yoakam/another-lesson-about-a-naive-fool-who-came-to-babylon-and-found-out/) [Dwight Yoakam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-yoakam/) > [“An expensive coffin does not decrease the deceased’s chances of going to hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/an-expensive-coffin-does-not-decrease-the-deceased-s-chances-of-going/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [If you need somebody you can trust, trust yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/if-you-need-somebody-you-can-trust-trust-yourself/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Something happens when your subconscious goes to work... That's why 'Sleep on it' is an adage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-voight/something-happens-when-your-subconscious-goes-to-work-that-s-why/) [Jon Voight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-voight/) > [There's an adage that a lot of coaches have, that I completely disagree with, is if you make the Olympic team too early you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-coughlin/there-s-an-adage-that-a-lot-of-coaches-have-that-i-completely/) [Natalie Coughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-coughlin/) > [An ancient adage warns, "Never go to sea with two chronometers; take one or three."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-brooks/an-ancient-adage-warns-never-go-to-sea-with-two-chronometers-take-one/) [Fred Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-brooks/) > [Don't judge the picture by the frame, every man is not the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/don-t-judge-the-picture-by-the-frame-every-man-is-not-the-same/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Failure isn't failure if a lesson from it's learned. I guess love would not be love without a risk of being burned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/failure-isn-t-failure-if-a-lesson-from-it-s-learned-i-guess-love/) [Garth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-brooks/) > [When you have everything, you have everything to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/when-you-have-everything-you-have-everything-to-lose/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [As the old African adage says, 'everybody skin to me ain't kin to me'. So you can't exclusively make that the criteria of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/as-the-old-african-adage-says-everybody-skin-to-me-ain-t-kin-to-me-so/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [Fool you once, you are forgiven. Fool you twice, you're just a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/fool-you-once-you-are-forgiven-fool-you-twice-you-re-just-a-fool/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) [Browse all 340 Adages quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adages/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Harry Truman proves that old adage that any man can become President of the United States.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Thomas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/harry-truman-proves-that-old-adage-that-any-man-can-become-president/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adages" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/harry-truman-proves-that-old-adage-that-any-man-can-become-president/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/norman-thomas-24883_adages_harry-truman-proves-that-old-adage-that_2091395.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/norman-thomas-24883_adages_harry-truman-proves-that-old-adage-that_2091395.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/norman-thomas-24883_adages_harry-truman-proves-that-old-adage-that_2091395.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Harry Truman proves that old adage that any man can become President of the United States.” — Norman Thomas", "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": "Norman Thomas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Harry Truman proves that old adage...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/harry-truman-proves-that-old-adage-that-any-man-can-become-president/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/harry-truman-proves-that-old-adage-that-any-man-can-become-president/#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 } } ] } ```