Emanuel Celler Quotes

Powerful Emanuel Celler for Daily Growth

About Emanuel Celler

Emanuel Celler (1888-1981), an influential American politician and attorney, was born on August 5, 1888, in New York City to Jewish immigrant parents from Hungary. His family's financial struggles during his childhood instilled in him a strong sense of social justice and a desire to help those less fortunate. He studied at the City College of New York before graduating from Columbia Law School. In 1916, Celler began his legal career, but politics soon called. A staunch Democrat, he served as a city alderman in Brooklyn, where he was born and raised. In 1923, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, serving for eight years before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1938. He would represent New York's 12th district until his retirement in 1973. During his tenure in Congress, Celler was a key figure in several landmark pieces of legislation, including the McCarran-Ferguson Act (1945), which exempted insurance companies from federal antitrust laws, and the Immigration and Nationality Act (1952), also known as the McCarran-Walter Act. However, his most enduring legacy is likely the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, he shepherded the bill through Congress despite fierce opposition. Known for his eloquence and tenacity, Celler was a champion of civil rights, immigration reform, and labor issues. He once said, "The measure of a nation's greatness lies in how it treats its weakest members." This sentiment underscored his commitment to justice throughout his life. After retiring from politics, he continued to work on social issues until his death on July 15, 1981.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main."

This quote by Emanuel Celler emphasizes interconnectedness among individuals and societies as a whole. It suggests that no one exists in isolation, but rather we are all connected like pieces of a larger whole, such as a continent. Our actions, decisions, and experiences have ripple effects on others around us. Therefore, it is essential to consider the broader implications of our choices and treat each other with compassion and understanding, recognizing that our wellbeing is intrinsically linked to that of others.


"The Bill of Rights was adopted to take the government off the Constitution and put it where it belongs - under the Constitution."

This quote by Emanuel Celler highlights the importance of limiting government power within the framework of the U.S. Constitution, as defined by the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights was created to ensure that individual liberties are protected and that the government does not overstep its bounds in restricting these freedoms. In essence, it places boundaries on the government, reminding it that its authority derives from the people and their rights, rather than the other way around.


"The Constitution is not a mere agreement between parties, but a charter of the fundamental principles upon which a free government rests."

Emanuel Celler's quote emphasizes that the United States Constitution is more than just an agreement or contract between parties; it serves as a foundational charter for a free government. In other words, the Constitution is not a simple set of rules established among people, but rather a comprehensive blueprint that outlines the fundamental values and principles upon which democracy and freedom are built. These include checks and balances, separation of powers, individual rights, and the rule of law. This interpretation highlights the importance of the Constitution in ensuring a stable and free society.


"A free society is maintained only by a vital and vibrant opposition party."

This quote emphasizes the importance of an active and robust opposition party in a democratic society. A vibrant opposition serves as a check and balance against the governing power, ensuring that ideas are debated openly, policies are scrutinized, and unchecked abuses of power are prevented. It also encourages healthy competition, fosters diversity of thought, and ultimately strengthens the democracy by promoting transparency and accountability in governance.


"The American tradition: a country conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

This quote by Emanuel Celler encapsulates the fundamental ideals of America – liberty and equality for all. It signifies that the United States was established as a nation based on the principle of liberty, meaning freedom and self-governance. The second part emphasizes the belief that every individual is created equal, which is a cornerstone of American democracy and social justice. This quote underscores the idea that America, in its essence, stands for fairness, equality, and the opportunity for each person to achieve their full potential.


The panic of the Depression loosened my inhibitions against being different. I could be myself.

- Emanuel Celler

Myself, Against, Could, Being Different

The Democratic Party will never desert the freedoms of our people under the guise of pretending to protect them.

- Emanuel Celler

Pretending, Will, Them, Our People

The author of McCarthyism was given the distinction of addressing the Republican National Convention. This strikes terror in the hearts of honest men.

- Emanuel Celler

Convention, Given, Terror, Honest Men

My wife - to-be and I went to see my father. Only he could answer the two questions before us: Shall we get married now? Shall I begin the practice of law, or continue being the successful wine salesman I had become, working my way through law school?

- Emanuel Celler

Practice, Through, Before, Law School

We pledge to fight the dark forces high in the counsels of the Republican Party which have made political capital out of the techniques of character assassination by innuendo.

- Emanuel Celler

Made, Capital, Which, Pledge

Illegality will never solve the problem of political lawlessness.

- Emanuel Celler

Problem, Never, Will, Lawlessness

The rate of population growth in the United States is slightly below that required to reproduce itself.

- Emanuel Celler

United States, Slightly, Reproduce

It is the purpose of the majority of the Immigration Committee to encourage assimilation, yet this bill has already done more than anything I know of to bring about discord among our resident aliens.

- Emanuel Celler

Immigration, Committee, More, Discord

I had advocated the establishment of a Negro industrial commission. I had gestured against the growth of monopoly power. I had introduced a few civil rights bills.

- Emanuel Celler

Against, Had, Establishment, Commission

We believe firmly that Communism internally and externally can and must be fought without resort to the Communist tactics of the suppression of all individual freedom.

- Emanuel Celler

Communist, Firmly, Suppression

Communism feeds on aggression, hatred, and the imprisonment of men's minds and souls. This shall not take root in the United States.

- Emanuel Celler

Souls, United, United States, Feeds

My grandfather was Catholic; my grandmother, Jewish. Crossing over from Bavaria, as immigrants to the United States, the ship started to sink. My grandmother jumped overboard. My grandfather followed, to save this girl he had never met.

- Emanuel Celler

Ship, United, Save, Catholic

Our population is headed for a stable plateau, which means an aging population.

- Emanuel Celler

Which, Means, Plateau, Stable

On the one hand we publicly pronounce the equality of all peoples; on the other hand, in our immigration laws, we embrace in practice these very theories we abhor and verbally condemn.

- Emanuel Celler

Immigration, Other, Very, Abhor

The population forecast for the United States in 1970 is 170 million. The population forecast for Russia alone in 1970 is 251 million. The implications are clear.

- Emanuel Celler

Clear, United, United States, Forecast

Roosevelt's magic lay in one facet of his personality: He knew how to take the risk. No other man in public life I knew could so readily take the challenge of the new.

- Emanuel Celler

Magic, New, Other, Public Life

I didn't know then that I would never be able to leave the sounds and smells of these sights behind me, but I was fiercely conscious of one thing-my ambition.

- Emanuel Celler

Behind, Sights, Smells, Fiercely

The inferior complex is now extended to all Europe, save Nordics.

- Emanuel Celler

Now, Complex, Inferior, Europe

Roosevelt's humor was broad, his manner friendly. Of wit there was little; of philosophy, none. What did he possess? Intuition, inspiration, love of adventure.

- Emanuel Celler

Love, Wit, Friendly, Philosophy

In March of 1933 we witnessed a revolution in manner, in mores, in the definition of government. What before had been black or white sprang alive with color.

- Emanuel Celler

Alive, Been, Witnessed, March

In our house we repeated the pattern of thousands of other homes. There were a few books and a lot of music. Our food and our furniture were no different from our neighbors'.

- Emanuel Celler

Pattern, Other, Thousands, Homes

I had taken on the color of the climate around me and had driven back all the emotion that rose from the Brooklyn streets so that I could belong to the exclusive club of Congress.

- Emanuel Celler

Color, Belong, Streets, Driven

I had fought against the unjust restriction of immigration.

- Emanuel Celler

Immigration, Unjust, Fought, Restriction

My grandfather, in 1848, had fled from Germany to find political freedom in the United States.

- Emanuel Celler

United, United States, Grandfather

The power to investigate is a great public trust.

- Emanuel Celler

Trust, Public, Public Trust, Investigate

The studied, unquestioning pace of my family irritated me.

- Emanuel Celler

Family, Me, Pace, Studied

People were hurt, and because they were hurt, they were angry and quarreled and were jealous of one another.

- Emanuel Celler

Jealous, Another, Were, Angry

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