Burgess Owens Quotes

Powerful Burgess Owens for Daily Growth

About Burgess Owens

Burgess Owens, born on March 7, 1948, in San Francisco, California, is a former professional football player, entrepreneur, and political commentator who has made significant contributions as an author and public speaker. Raised by his grandmother in Oakland, California, Owens' life took a transformative turn when he was awarded a full football scholarship to the University of Miami, where he would go on to become an All-American cornerback and earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. His professional football career began in 1973 with the New England Patriots, followed by stints with the Oakland Raiders (1976–1980) and Montreal Alouettes (1981–1982). After retiring from football, Owens delved into entrepreneurship, founding multiple businesses in real estate, entertainment, and technology. In 1994, Owens made his literary debut with the release of his memoir, "Bulletproof Spirit: Memoirs of a Patriot." The book recounts his experiences as an African American athlete during a time of racial tension and offers insight into his personal journey towards self-discovery. Throughout his life, Owens has been influenced by his Christian faith and the teachings of his grandmother, who instilled in him the importance of hard work, perseverance, and self-reliance. These values are evident in his political views, as he is a staunch conservative who advocates for limited government, individual responsibility, and free-market principles. In recent years, Owens has gained recognition as a political commentator, contributing to various media outlets, and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2018 and 2020. Despite this, his impact extends far beyond the political arena, inspiring countless individuals with his captivating story of overcoming adversity and achieving success through determination, resilience, and unwavering faith.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Freedom isn't free; it costs the blood and sweat of patriots."

This quote by Burgess Owens emphasizes that the price of freedom is not abstract or immaterial, but rather requires tangible sacrifices such as blood, sweat, and hard work from those who are dedicated to preserving it. It serves as a reminder that maintaining liberty and self-governance isn't something that just happens naturally; instead, it necessitates the efforts and commitment of patriots willing to make personal sacrifices for the greater good.


"The true measure of a society is how it treats its weakest members."

This quote emphasizes that the moral health and justice of a society can be judged by how it cares for and protects its most vulnerable citizens. It suggests that a society's commitment to equity, compassion, and social responsibility is demonstrated through the support and aid provided to those who are less fortunate, marginalized, or disadvantaged in some way. In essence, it encourages us to focus on uplifting and empowering the weakest members of our communities as a measure of societal progress and moral integrity.


"You can't change what you refuse to confront."

This quote emphasizes that in order to effect meaningful change, one must first acknowledge and confront the issues or problems at hand. Refusing to address difficult truths will hinder any attempt to make positive changes. It's a call for honest introspection and self-awareness as a prerequisite for personal growth and positive transformation.


"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill (often quoted by Burgess Owens)

This quote emphasizes the resilience and determination required in the pursuit of success. It suggests that one should not be disheartened by failure or success, but rather, have the courage to persist despite setbacks. The courage to continue, regardless of the outcome, is what truly counts in the journey towards achieving goals and fulfilling aspirations.


"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke (often quoted by Burgess Owens)

This quote emphasizes that inaction from good people can lead to the victory of evil forces or harmful ideologies. It implies that it's essential for individuals who hold moral values to actively stand against oppression, injustice, or negative societal changes. By remaining passive, they may unintentionally contribute to the success of negative influences, which is something that Burgess Owens, and originally Edmund Burke, seeks to prevent.


Unfortunately, I have been a little disappointed that we have issues out there like traditional marriage, abortion, school education, and we have so much silence from the black community, from black preachers, because they understand first hand the impact of all that.

- Burgess Owens

Education, Abortion, Been, Impact

In the decades since my youth, I've witnessed the explosion of fatherless families and an exponential increase in illiteracy and crime.

- Burgess Owens

Witnessed, Fatherless, Exponential

We read of the courageous march south to battle the Confederate Army by the all-black 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Unlike their white counterparts, they understood from the beginning that they would be offered no quarter if captured alive.

- Burgess Owens

Beginning, Alive, South, Confederate

As a former NFL player, I am one American who will have nothing to do with any NFL Team that cannot find the corporate courage to stand for the millions of courageous past great Americans whose sacrifice gave meaning to our flag and national anthem and to the millions upon millions who still dream to come to its free shores.

- Burgess Owens

American, Flag, Anthem, Former

W. E. B Dubois used the NAACP platform for two decades to discredit the character, reputation, and fund-raising efforts of capitalist and Tuskegee University founder, Booker T. Washington.

- Burgess Owens

Founder, NAACP, Capitalist, Fund-Raising

That's what Democrats do best: breed black votes.

- Burgess Owens

Best, Black, Democrats, Breed

I believe that my worth is not measured by what I do, by the honors that are bestowed upon me, or by material wealth that I might obtain. Instead, I am measured by the courage I show while standing for my beliefs, by the dedication I exhibit to ensure my word is good, and the resolve I undertake to establish my actions and deeds as honorable.

- Burgess Owens

Resolve, Show, Measured, Honors

It was the understanding of the power of perception that allowed the Martin Luther King, Jr. generations to stay true to the strategy of non-violence, refusing to retaliate when every emotional instinct would justify them doing so.

- Burgess Owens

Non-Violence, Refusing, Luther

The NAACP was not a black-run, black-originated organization. It was run by 21 white, socialist, atheist, Marxist Democrats. It was the antithesis of Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.'s community at that time, which was capitalist, Christian, very pro-life, and pro-America.

- Burgess Owens

Very, NAACP, Martin Luther, Luther

Dubois was the first black American to graduate from Harvard. He was accepted within the northern white intellectual circles as one of the 'best of his race.' As an avowed socialist, he was the only black member of the original 19 wealthy socialist founders of the NAACP.

- Burgess Owens

Circles, Wealthy, NAACP, Avowed

The Talented Tenth is alive and well today and visible in all arenas of prominence. 'That they may guide the mass away from the contamination and death of the worst, in their own and other races.' As they elevate themselves from the masses, they ensure their success and that of their fellow Talented Tenth friends.

- Burgess Owens

Other, Away, Tenth, Arenas

If you apologize to me, I look at it as an insult because my parents, my grandparents, my great-grandparents, like every other culture out there, did exactly what they needed to do. They worked hard, and they became part of the American way, and they earned the respect of Americans across the board. We need to do the same.

- Burgess Owens

Grandparents, Other, Became, Apologize

We live in the greatest country in the history of mankind every single day.

- Burgess Owens

Single, Mankind, Country, Single Day

There was a different, visionary team commitment that guided the black community at the beginning of the 20th century, best envisioned by educator, entrepreneur, and founder of Tuskegee University Booker T. Washington.

- Burgess Owens

Beginning, Envisioned, Guided

On our way to the Super Bowl XV Championship, the Oakland Raiders played a frigid 1981 AFC playoff game in Cleveland, in which the temperatures plunged to -35 degrees. I remember looking up in the stands to see a dedicated Cleveland Brown fan celebrating topless.

- Burgess Owens

Game, I Remember, Bowl, Topless

I am thrilled and proud of Benjamin Watson for speaking up on behalf of innocent black lives, traditionally an unpopular stance in the mainstream media.

- Burgess Owens

Innocent, Proud, Lives, Watson

My dad and uncles were among the 125,000 proud black American volunteers who, throughout their entire lives, considered their decision to serve during WWII as their greatest honor.

- Burgess Owens

Decision, Proud, Lives, Volunteers

The true fans were capable of not only painting their cars and homes their team colors, but also naming family pets and offspring after famous NFL all-stars.

- Burgess Owens

Famous, Pets, Offspring, Naming

The success of the long-established relationship between the liberal/socialist/progressives and the Black Talented Tenth has been due to their commonality in commitment to an ideology and self-aggrandizement above all else.

- Burgess Owens

Black, Been, Tenth, Commonality

We do not have a racial crisis; we have an ideology crisis. We have socialists, Marxists, and liberals who have hijacked my race.

- Burgess Owens

Crisis, Race, Socialists, Hijacked

Dubois, later in his life, would join the Communist party and renounce his American citizenship. His 'integration at all costs' message would, decades later, continue to influence the community's self-perception.

- Burgess Owens

American, Communist, Costs, Decades

As a 10-year veteran of the NFL, I had a unique perspective weekly to see the heartfelt commitment of the fan. Regardless of years of disappointing and winless seasons, the true fans remained die-hard in their loyalty to 'the Team.'

- Burgess Owens

Loyalty, Seasons, Remained, Heartfelt

We understood, growing up - 'cause it was taught in our family home, my mom and dad - to respect women, for instance. To respect yourself. That you respect your name. Those are the kind of things we were taught.

- Burgess Owens

Cause, Instance, Dad, Understood

The visionary, industrious, Christian, and segregated black community of the early- to mid-1960s understood and embraced the importance of a positive self-perception. It was this same recognition that drove millions of young patriotic black men throughout our nation's history to be among the first to volunteer when our nation went to war.

- Burgess Owens

Young, Nation, Patriotic, Understood

One of the things I did in my book, I start off with, is explaining how great our grace was: the things we were able to accomplish after the first one-hundred years from slavery.

- Burgess Owens

Book, One Of The Things, Explaining

We don't have to wonder or drift with society; the Lord has a very strong and clear pathway of what is right and where blessings come from.

- Burgess Owens

Strong, Blessings, Very, Drift

The mantra for the Obama campaign and their surrogates has focused on one thing regarding race, which is to take every opportunity to depict the Republican Party a group of rich white racists.

- Burgess Owens

Mantra, Depict, Racists

As black Americans continue to be insulted and dismissed by protected white liberals, the Black Talented Tenth will continue to benefit from political donations, speaking engagements, national media presence, accolades as the official black leaders, and perpetual gigs on MSNBC and CNN.

- Burgess Owens

Tenth, Donations, Insulted, Presence

As its citizens humbly recommit to an acceptance of guidance from the God of our fathers, our nation will once again see the miraculous resurrection of the proud, responsible, visionary black father. And with him, his family and community will be lifted.

- Burgess Owens

Father, Nation, Fathers, Humbly

If you wonder why urban young black women are allowing themselves to be victimized by Planned Parenthood, look at BET, which is owned by very wealthy white Democrats.

- Burgess Owens

Wealthy, Very, Which, Women Are

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.