Andrew Young Quotes

Powerful Andrew Young for Daily Growth

About Andrew Young

Andrew Young (born March 13, 1928) is an American politician, minister, and diplomat who played significant roles in the American Civil Rights Movement and U.S.-Africa relations. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Young grew up in rural south Georgia, where he experienced firsthand the racial inequality prevalent during the Jim Crow era. Influenced by the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr., Young became an active member of the Civil Rights Movement, serving as Executive Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) from 1964 to 1972. During this time, he organized numerous demonstrations and marches, including the March on Washington in 1963, where King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. In 1972, Young was elected as Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, becoming the city's first African American mayor. His tenure saw the transformation of Atlanta into a thriving metropolis, including the organization of the 1996 Summer Olympics. In 1977, he became the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, where he played a crucial role in the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt. In 1981, Young was appointed as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by President Jimmy Carter. He later served as a Georgia congressman from 1993 to 2003. Throughout his career, Andrew Young has been instrumental in promoting peace, equality, and social justice both domestically and internationally. Quotes attributed to Andrew Young reflect his passion for civil rights, diplomacy, and unity: "If you want to understand a people, walk with them," and "When America decides that it is going to do something, no force on earth can stop it." These sentiments have guided his work throughout his distinguished career.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If you want to make a difference in someone's life, do something unexpected and unexplainable."

This quote emphasizes that genuine impact on others often comes from acts that surprise or defy conventional expectations. By performing an act that is both unusual and inexplicable, one can create a profound impression, stir emotions, and potentially change someone's life in meaningful ways. This could include selfless gestures of kindness, unexpected tokens of appreciation, or any act that transcends the ordinary and leaves a lasting impact.


"Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude."

This quote by Andrew Young emphasizes that forgiveness should be a permanent state of mind, not just a fleeting action taken in specific situations. It's about cultivating a continuous, unwavering attitude of understanding, pardon, and compassion towards others. This approach fosters peace, promotes healing, and strengthens relationships, making it essential in maintaining a harmonious life.


"When people fail to forgive, they are the ones who get hurt."

This quote by Andrew Young implies that holding onto grudges or refusing to forgive others can cause more harm to oneself than to those who have wronged us. Forgiveness is a powerful tool for emotional healing and personal growth, as it allows us to let go of negative feelings and move forward in a positive direction. By not forgiving, we may hold onto anger, resentment, or bitterness that can poison our own thoughts, feelings, and actions, rather than the other person who may have already moved on or apologized. Ultimately, forgiveness is about freeing ourselves from the pain of the past and opening ourselves up to peace, love, and happiness in the present moment.


"If you want to be important, worry about important things. If you want to be rich, seek riches, but if you want to make a difference, seek the heart of another."

This quote suggests that one can pursue importance, wealth, or influence (being important, being rich), but true impact is achieved by connecting with others emotionally (seeking the heart of another). It emphasizes that making a difference in someone's life through compassion and empathy leaves a lasting impact, setting oneself apart from those who merely chase status or material possessions.


"We must recognize that justice isn't going to come by itself at the end of the rainbow; we have to pursue it with dogged determination and unyielding commitment."

This quote by Andrew Young emphasizes that achieving justice requires active effort and persistence, rather than relying passively on circumstances or events. It encourages individuals to actively pursue justice with tenacity and a resolute commitment. The rainbow symbolizes an ideal or aspiration, but reaching it is not automatic; instead, it necessitates consistent and determined action.


The commercialization of sport is the democratization of sport.

- Andrew Young

Commercialization, Sport, Democratization

Having personally watched the Voting Rights Act being signed into law that August day, I can't begin to imagine how we could have all been so wrong in believing that more Americans would vote once they were all truly free to do so.

- Andrew Young

Voting, Believing, Been, August

When people ask where I studied to be an ambassador, I say my neighborhood and my school. I've tried to tell my kids that you don't wait until you're in high school or college to start dealing with problems of people being different. The younger you start, the better.

- Andrew Young

College, Wait, Tell, Being Different

If Congress can move President's Day, Columbus Day and, alas, Martin Luther King's Birthday celebration for the convenience of shoppers, shouldn't they at least consider moving Election Day for the convenience of voters?

- Andrew Young

Birthday, Election, Move, Convenience

Tomorrow is the day when idlers work, and fool reform, and mortal men lay hold on heaven.

- Andrew Young

Work, Reform, Lay, Idlers

The two are not mutually exclusive, but we think we can have wealth without good ideas and without values and without a clear vision. Wealth without vision is insanity.

- Andrew Young

Wealth, Think, Insanity, Mutually Exclusive

If I hadn't been so outspoken, Jimmy Carter wouldn't have wanted me.

- Andrew Young

Been, Wanted, Carter, Outspoken

There is a sense in which the United States ambassador speaks to the United States, as well as for the United States. I have always seen my role as a thermostat rather than a thermometer. So I'm going to be actively working... for my own concerns. I have always had people advise me on what to say, but never on what not to say.

- Andrew Young

Role, United, Rather, Advise

I wasn't predicted to be anything. I just followed an inner spirit, and it put me in the right place and the right time. I didn't want to be the mayor of Atlanta. I didn't want to run for Congress. I didn't want to work for Martin Luther King Jr. I wanted to work close to him and be a writer and write about the movement.

- Andrew Young

Run, Congress, Martin Luther, Luther

Look at those they call unfortunate and at a closer view, you'll find many of them are unwise.

- Andrew Young

View, Call, Unfortunate, Unwise

President Jimmy Carter was a citizen soldier. Ironically, he was considered weak because he didn't kill anybody and he didn't get anyone killed.

- Andrew Young

Citizen, Anybody, Considered, President

Some kind of affirmative action is important in a democracy and for economic competitiveness and national security. The Army was the first to realize that you had to have desegregation of a military to have it working properly.

- Andrew Young

Some, Affirmative Action, National Security

Nothing is illegal if one hundred businessmen decide to do it.

- Andrew Young

Nothing, Decide, Hundred, Businessmen

I grew up in the middle of a block where there was an Irish grocery store on one corner, an Italian bar on another corner and the Nazi Party was on the third corner.

- Andrew Young

Irish, Middle, Another, Block

On the soft bed of luxury many kingdoms have expired.

- Andrew Young

Luxury, Bed, Expired, Kingdoms

We've changed in the sense that we flipped - and this is no longer the Republican party of Lincoln. This is the party of suppression.

- Andrew Young

Longer, Flipped, Lincoln, Suppression

When I took the SAT, I didn't get accepted into a single white school that I applied to. Now I've got honorary degrees from a lot of those schools that rejected me. Things are different now, but not that much different.

- Andrew Young

Got, Applied, Rejected, Honorary

Surely, if we can land a spaceship on Mars, we can certainly put a voter ID card in the hand of every eligible voter.

- Andrew Young

Mars, Surely, Certainly, Eligible

I see the war problem as an economic problem, a business problem, a cultural problem, an educational problem - everything but a military problem. There's no military solution. There is a business solution - and the sooner we can provide jobs, not with our money, but the United States has to provide the framework.

- Andrew Young

United States, Educational, Economic

Freedom is a struggle, and we do it together. Not only together as black citizens, but black and white together.

- Andrew Young

Freedom, White, Only, Struggle

I've been dyslexic and had Attention Deficit Disorder at some time in my life. I still read with a highlighter, but I've always loved to read.

- Andrew Young

My Life, Some, Always, Dyslexic

Do not try to live your children's lives out of your own frustrations.

- Andrew Young

Children, Own, Lives, Frustrations

It is a blessing to die for a cause, because you can so easily die for nothing.

- Andrew Young

Die, Nothing, Cause, Blessing

I'm against voter fraud in any form, and I have long supported a national voter ID card. But ID cards need not - and must not - restrict voting rights in any way, shape or form.

- Andrew Young

Cards, Need, Shape, Card

If I wanted to develop a scenario to destroy America, I would do what the Republicans are doing. Take the brightest and best young black men off the streets, put them in jail, make them meaner than hell for 8 or 10 years and then turn them lose in a society where there are plenty of guns for them to play with.

- Andrew Young

Play, Doing, Guns, Brightest

Our children lost our direction because they have been compromised. They have found freedom at the ballot box, and then they have taken on plastic chains around their minds and souls and mortgage their future on credit cards. They have to learn better - they have to learn the value of ideas and health as opposed to wealth.

- Andrew Young

Cards, Chains, Been, Ballot Box

Everybody in America has been dependent on the government at some time. We owe everybody in America the right to vote and access to capital. What I say is, let's make America work, let's make democracy and free enterprise work for everybody.

- Andrew Young

Some, Been, Everybody, Dependent

Most of my teachers wanted to send me to the principal's office. But my fourth-grade teacher once put her arms around me and said, 'You sure write well.' And I've had good penmanship until this day. She was the only one who ever said anything nice to me. That's the kind of motivation that students need.

- Andrew Young

Motivation, Students, Had, Send

I like my life. I've had a good life. I think the reason is my parents taught me that life is a burden. But if you take it one day at a time, it's an easy burden.

- Andrew Young

My Life, Reason, I Think, One Day At A Time

My feeling is that you don't go looking for troubles. The cross ought to find you. And so I never go out of my way. I figure I only get involved in things that I can't get around.

- Andrew Young

Go, Cross, Figure, Ought

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