Eleanor Roosevelt Quotes

Powerful Eleanor Roosevelt for Daily Growth

About Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962), an influential American politician, diplomat, and activist, was the First Lady of the United States during her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms in office from 1933 to 1945. Born Anna Eleanor Roosevelt on October 11, 1884, she was the daughter of Elliott Roosevelt (a cousin of President Theodore Roosevelt) and Emily Hall Roosevelt. Eleanor's early life was marked by personal loss; her mother died when she was eight years old, and both her parents were dead before she turned ten. Raised primarily by her aunt, she attended several private schools in the United States and Europe. Despite being a Roosevelt, Eleanor faced significant social barriers due to her mother's inheritance of a mental illness. This experience shaped her empathy towards marginalized groups throughout her life. Eleanor married Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1905, at the age of twenty. Their marriage was unconventional for the time; they maintained separate households and shared an open relationship, allowing Eleanor to pursue her interests and career. As First Lady, Eleanor broke norms by holding press conferences, writing a daily newspaper column, and advocating for civil rights, labor rights, and women's issues. After Franklin's death in 1945, she served as a United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly (1945-1952), playing a key role in drafting and promoting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Eleanor Roosevelt is remembered for her quotable wisdom: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent," and "Do one thing every day that scares you." Her autobiography, "This I Remember" (1949), offers insights into her life and experiences. She also penned numerous articles, books, and columns throughout her public life. Her legacy continues to inspire advocates for social justice worldwide.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

This quote emphasizes personal empowerment and self-worth, suggesting that feelings of inferiority are not inherently imposed but rather consented to. It encourages individuals to take control over their emotions and perceptions, implying that no one has the authority to make someone feel small unless they allow it. In essence, it underlines the importance of understanding our own value and worth to maintain personal dignity and self-respect.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

This quote emphasizes the power of optimism and faith in one's aspirations, suggesting that individuals who wholeheartedly believe in the allure of their dreams will be the ones to shape the future positively. In essence, it encourages an attitude of determination and hopefulness when pursuing one's goals, as those with unwavering confidence in their vision for a better tomorrow are more likely to bring about meaningful change.

"It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."

Eleanor Roosevelt's quote, "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness," emphasizes the importance of taking positive action rather than dwelling on problems or complaining about circumstances. In essence, it encourages people to be proactive in solving issues and creating solutions instead of focusing on negativity or despair. This quote inspires us to make a difference in our own lives and in the world around us, through constructive actions that brighten up the darkness.

"Well-behaved women seldom make history."

This quote by Eleanor Roosevelt suggests that conventional, obedient women typically do not leave a lasting impact on history. It implies that to create change or make history, one must challenge the status quo, take risks, and make bold decisions. This quote encourages individuals, particularly women, to step out of their comfort zones, express themselves, and strive for greatness in order to effect change.

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face."

This quote by Eleanor Roosevelt encourages personal growth through facing fears head-on. It suggests that each encounter with fear provides an opportunity to develop resilience, bravery, and self-assurance. By directly confronting our fears, we are forced to look them in the eye, which can lead to increased strength and confidence. In essence, Roosevelt posits that embracing and overcoming fear is a vital component of personal development and self-empowerment.

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Courage, Through, Next, Fear

We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Relationship, Other, Too, Fear

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Beauty, Future, Belongs, Dreams

Probably the happiest period in life most frequently is in middle age, when the eager passions of youth are cooled, and the infirmities of age not yet begun; as we see that the shadows, which are at morning and evening so large, almost entirely disappear at midday.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Age, Almost, Frequently, Eager

Campaign behavior for wives: Always be on time. Do as little talking as humanly possible. Lean back in the parade car so everybody can see the president.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Back, Always, Everybody, Lean

The only advantage of not being too good a housekeeper is that your guests are so pleased to feel how very much better they are.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Feel, Very, Advantage, Guests

Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his own weight, this is a frightening prospect.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Freedom, Own, Unwilling, Prospect

In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Process, Die, Shape, Our Lives

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Great, Small, Minds, Events

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Happiness, Goal, By-Product

Anyone who knows history, particularly the history of Europe, will, I think, recognize that the domination of education or of government by any one particular religious faith is never a happy arrangement for the people.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

I Think, Religious, Europe

Too often the great decisions are originated and given form in bodies made up wholly of men, or so completely dominated by them that whatever of special value women have to offer is shunted aside without expression.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Without, Wholly, Bodies, Dominated

Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Right, Feel, Your, Criticized

Autobiographies are only useful as the lives you read about and analyze may suggest to you something that you may find useful in your own journey through life.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Through, Read, Lives, Analyze

The giving of love is an education in itself.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Love, Education, Itself, Love Is

It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Wish, Does, Takes, Energy

Understanding is a two-way street.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Street, Two-Way Street, Two-Way

Ambition is pitiless. Any merit that it cannot use it finds despicable.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Ambition, Use, Finds, Despicable

Have convictions. Be friendly. Stick to your beliefs as they stick to theirs. Work as hard as they do.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Work, Stick, Friendly, Convictions

It is not more vacation we need - it is more vocation.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

More, Need, Vocation, Vacation

My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Work, Pull, Best Way, Depths

Old age has deformities enough of its own. It should never add to them the deformity of vice.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Age, Never, Add, Deformity

Perhaps nature is our best assurance of immortality.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Nature, Immortality, Perhaps, Assurance

As for accomplishments, I just did what I had to do as things came along.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Along, Things, Came, Accomplishments

Sometimes I wonder if we shall ever grow up in our politics and say definite things which mean something, or whether we shall always go on using generalities to which everyone can subscribe, and which mean very little.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Politics, Sometimes, Very, I Wonder

The battle for the individual rights of women is one of long standing and none of us should countenance anything which undermines it.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Individual, Which, None, Individual Rights

I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Birthday, Gift, Think, Fairy

I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experience behind him.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Conquer, Doing, Behind, I Believe

You can't move so fast that you try to change the mores faster than people can accept it. That doesn't mean you do nothing, but it means that you do the things that need to be done according to priority.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Need, Move, Means, Priority

One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes... and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Wisdom, Responsibility, Expressed

I think I lived those years very impersonally. It was almost as though I had erected someone outside myself who was the president's wife. I was lost somewhere deep down inside myself. That is the way I felt and worked until I left the White House.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Deep, I Think, Very, White House

A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Think, Living, I Think, Rational

The Bible illustrated by Dore occupied many of my hours - and I think probably gave me many nightmares.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Bible, Think, Hours, Occupied

I'm so glad I never feel important, it does complicate life!

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Important, Never, Does, Complicate

The only things one can admire at length are those one admires without knowing why.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Knowing, Only, Things, Admires

When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Grow, Will, Tender, Avenge

There are practical little things in housekeeping which no man really understands.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Little Things, Things, Which, Understands

When life is too easy for us, we must beware or we may not be ready to meet the blows which sooner or later come to everyone, rich or poor.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Life, Beware, Which, Blows

In all our contacts it is probably the sense of being really needed and wanted which gives us the greatest satisfaction and creates the most lasting bond.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Sense, Needed, Which, Bond

If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Life, Cease, Would, Flavor

Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Remember, Always, Individual, Obligation

It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Yourself, Ask, Willing, Not Fair

I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Bed, Very, Named, Pleased

What you don't do can be a destructive force.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

You, Force, Destructive

You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've become yourself.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Own, Through, Your, Become

Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Thought, Give, Deal, Good Deal

When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Contribution, Die, Cease, Begin

Anyone who thinks must think of the next war as they would of suicide.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Think, Next, Would, Thinks

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Feel, Your, Inferior, Consent

Hate and force cannot be in just a part of the world without having an effect on the rest of it.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Rest, World, Having, Force

I have spent many years of my life in opposition, and I rather like the role.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

My Life, Role, Rather, Opposition

Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Alone, Justice, Side, Both

The mother of a family should look upon her housekeeping and the planning of meals as a scientific occupation.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Mother, Planning, Occupation, Housekeeping

Life must be lived and curiosity kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Curiosity, Reason, Alive, Kept

You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Best, Important, Give, Meet

People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Experience, Grow, Through, Meet

It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Work, Peace, About, Talk

Friendship with ones self is all important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Friendship, Friends, Without, Anyone Else

I can not believe that war is the best solution. No one won the last war, and no one will win the next war.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Solution, Next, Last, Won

I used to tell my husband that, if he could make me 'understand' something, it would be clear to all the other people in the country.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Country, Other, Could, Husband

A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Women, Strong, Woman, Water

Actors are one family over the entire world.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

World, Over, Entire World, Actor

I do not think that I am a natural born mother... If I ever wanted to mother anyone, it was my father.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Think, Born, Natural, Wanted

Only a man's character is the real criterion of worth.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Character, Man, Only, Criterion

I think that somehow, we learn who we really are and then live with that decision.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Decision, Think, I Think, Somehow

You must do the things you think you cannot do.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Inspirational, Think, Things, Cannot

Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Power, Never, Allow, Yes

What one has to do usually can be done.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Done

With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Motivational, Thoughts, New, Day

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