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Henry A. Wallace Quotes

Powerful Henry A. Wallace for Daily Growth

About Henry A. Wallace

Henry Agard Wallace (1908-1965) was an American journalist, agricultural scientist, statesman, and political leader, known primarily for his role as Vice President under Franklin D. Roosevelt and his influential writings on agriculture and foreign policy. Born on October 7, 1908, in Orient, Iowa, Wallace was the son of Henry Candler Wallace and Mary Christina Agard. Raised on a farm, he developed an early interest in agriculture and science, earning degrees from Iowa State University and the University of Chicago. In 1924, at the age of 15, he became the youngest editor of a newspaper, the Wallaces' Farmer, which his father founded to disseminate progressive farming practices. Wallace gained national prominence during the Great Depression as Secretary of Agriculture (1933-1940) under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, where he implemented New Deal policies that helped farmers and revolutionized American agriculture with innovations such as soil conservation and mechanization. He was also a key figure in the development and implementation of the New Deal's agricultural policies during this period. In 1944, Wallace was selected as the Vice Presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket, serving alongside Roosevelt for one term (1945-1949). During his tenure, he advocated for progressive domestic policies and a more conciliatory approach towards the Soviet Union, creating tension with other members of the administration. Following his time in office, Wallace continued to write and speak on political and agricultural issues, eventually founding The New Republic magazine in 1934 and writing several influential books, including "Cross Currents" (1956) and "The American Tapestry" (1959). He died on November 18, 1965. Wallace's legacy endures as a champion of progressive ideas in agriculture, domestic policy, and foreign relations. His quotations, such as "A nation which continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death," remain relevant today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The United Nations was not created to take mankind into a fool's paradise of perpetual peace and plenty."

This quote by Henry A. Wallace suggests that the United Nations, an international organization aimed at maintaining peace and cooperation among its member states, was not established with unrealistic expectations of achieving a utopian state of eternal peace and abundance. Instead, it was created to manage the complexities and challenges inherent in human relations, acknowledging that conflict and scarcity are part of the global reality. This understanding can inspire us to work towards progress while being mindful of the ongoing complexities and striving for continuous improvement rather than hoping for an unattainable perfect world.

"A government which sunders the people from the land can have no permanent popularity."

This quote by Henry A. Wallace suggests that a government that disconnects or separates the people from the land, i.e., their primary source of livelihood, food, and community, cannot sustain long-term public support. By tying people to the land, they establish roots, build communities, and invest in the future. When this connection is severed, people may feel disenfranchised, leading to unpopularity for the government over time. This sentiment can be interpreted as a call for policies that promote sustainable agricultural practices, community development, and equitable land access.

"Democracy is the product of the West. It is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, in Greek philosophy, in the individualism of the Renaissance, and in the political revolutions of modern times."

This quote by Henry A. Wallace suggests that democracy, as we know it today, originates from Western cultural and historical influences. He identifies several key factors: 1. The Judeo-Christian tradition emphasizes the inherent worth of every individual, which can be seen as a foundation for democratic values like equality and freedom. 2. Greek philosophy, particularly works from thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, laid the groundwork for many democratic principles such as the rule of law, civic participation, and justice. 3. The individualism of the Renaissance promoted personal liberty, which is a cornerstone of modern democracy. 4. The political revolutions in modern times, such as the American Revolution and the French Revolution, brought about significant shifts towards democratic governance structures. In essence, Wallace is stating that democracy is a unique product of Western history and thought, shaped by religious beliefs, philosophical ideas, cultural values, and historical events.

"The American people are more concerned about the welfare of their own families than they are about foreign policy issues."

This quote by Henry A. Wallace underscores a core aspect of human nature, particularly in democratic societies like the United States: People prioritize their immediate personal needs and the well-being of their families over abstract, distant issues such as foreign policy. This doesn't mean they are uninterested or uninformed about foreign policy; rather, it highlights that everyday concerns tend to occupy a more prominent place in people's minds. This perspective can serve as a valuable guide for policymakers seeking to engage and influence the public effectively.

"We can have peace among nations only as we can have peace in a nation, and that can never be until the individuals within the nation are so accustomed to justice that it is their first instinct."

This quote emphasizes the interconnectedness between personal values and societal harmony. It suggests that for peace to exist globally, individuals must embody values such as justice within their own societies, mirroring the idea that a nation can only have peace when its citizens prioritize justice naturally. In other words, genuine peace is contingent upon fostering a society where fairness and justice are deeply ingrained personal values, rather than just ideals.

Fascism is a worldwide disease. Its greatest threat to the United States will come after the war, either via Latin America or within the United States itself.

- Henry A. Wallace

Will, Disease, United States, Worldwide

The worldwide, agelong struggle between fascism and democracy will not stop when the fighting ends in Germany and Japan.

- Henry A. Wallace

Will, Japan, Germany, Worldwide

This dullness of vision regarding the importance of the general welfare to the individual is the measure of the failure of our schools and churches to teach the spiritual significance of genuine democracy.

- Henry A. Wallace

Individual, Importance, Significance

The European brand of fascism will probably present its most serious postwar threat to us via Latin America.

- Henry A. Wallace

Will, European, Via, Postwar

A fascist is one whose lust for money or power is combined with such an intensity of intolerance toward those of other races, parties, classes, religions, cultures, regions or nations as to make him ruthless in his use of deceit or violence to attain his ends.

- Henry A. Wallace

Other, Use, Regions, Lust

In an effort to eliminate the possibility of any rival growing up, some monopolists would sacrifice democracy itself.

- Henry A. Wallace

Effort, Sacrifice, Some, Rival

Their final objective toward which all their deceit is directed is to capture political power so that, using the power of the state and the power of the market simultaneously, they may keep the common man in eternal subjection.

- Henry A. Wallace

Which, Directed, Using, Simultaneously

Until democracy in effective enthusiastic action fills the vacuum created by the power of modern inventions, we may expect the fascists to increase in power after the war both in the United States and in the world.

- Henry A. Wallace

May, United States, Fascists, Fills

The symptoms of fascist thinking are colored by environment and adapted to immediate circumstances. But always and everywhere they can be identified by their appeal to prejudice and by the desire to play upon the fears and vanities of different groups in order to gain power.

- Henry A. Wallace

Thinking, Play, Fears, Identified

If we put our trust in the common sense of common men and 'with malice toward none and charity for all' go forward on the great adventure of making political, economic and social democracy a practical reality, we shall not fail.

- Henry A. Wallace

Trust, Political, None, Common Sense

If this liberal potential is properly channeled, we may expect the area of freedom of the United States to increase. The problem is to spend up our rate of social invention in the service of the welfare of all the people.

- Henry A. Wallace

Welfare, United, Our, Invention

Our chemical and other manufacturing concerns are all too often ready to let the Germans have Latin American markets, provided the American companies can work out an arrangement which will enable them to charge high prices to the consumer inside the United States.

- Henry A. Wallace

Other, United, Provided, Manufacturing

We must not tolerate oppressive government or industrial oligarchy in the form of monopolies and cartels.

- Henry A. Wallace

Oppressive, Oligarchy, Tolerate

Most American fascists are enthusiastically supporting the war effort. They are doing this even in those cases where they hope to have profitable connections with German chemical firms after the war ends.

- Henry A. Wallace

Doing, German, Fascists, Supporting

The fascists in most Latin American countries tell the people that the reason their wages will not buy as much in the way of goods is because of Yankee imperialism. The fascists in Latin America learn to speak and act like natives.

- Henry A. Wallace

Reason, Tell, Buy, Natives

The American fascists are most easily recognized by their deliberate perversion of truth and fact. Their newspapers and propaganda carefully cultivate every fissure of disunity, every crack in the common front against fascism.

- Henry A. Wallace

Fact, Propaganda, Fascists, Fascism

It has been claimed at times that our modern age of technology facilitates dictatorship.

- Henry A. Wallace

Been, Modern Age, Times, Dictatorship

It is no coincidence that the growth of modern tyrants has in every case been heralded by the growth of prejudice.

- Henry A. Wallace

Tyrants, Modern, Been, Coincidence

It may be shocking to some people in this country to realize that, without meaning to do so, they hold views in common with Hitler when they preach discrimination against other religious, racial or economic groups.

- Henry A. Wallace

Country, Some, Religious, Shocking

The moral and spiritual aspects of both personal and international relationships have a practical bearing which so-called practical men deny.

- Henry A. Wallace

Practical, Which, Deny, International

What we must understand is that the industries, processes, and inventions created by modern science can be used either to subjugate or liberate. The choice is up to us.

- Henry A. Wallace

Processes, Used, Created, Industries

The American fascist would prefer not to use violence. His method is to poison the channels of public information.

- Henry A. Wallace

His, Would, Prefer, Channels

They are patriotic in time of war because it is to their interest to be so, but in time of peace they follow power and the dollar wherever they may lead.

- Henry A. Wallace

Patriotism, May, Patriotic, Wherever

With a fascist the problem is never how best to present the truth to the public but how best to use the news to deceive the public into giving the fascist and his group more money or more power.

- Henry A. Wallace

News, More, Use, Group

If we define an American fascist as one who in case of conflict puts money and power ahead of human beings, then there are undoubtedly several million fascists in the United States.

- Henry A. Wallace

United States, Fascists, Case

The obvious types of American fascists are dealt with on the air and in the press. These demagogues and stooges are fronts for others. Dangerous as these people may be, they are not so significant as thousands of other people who have never been mentioned.

- Henry A. Wallace

Types, Fascists, Fronts, Stooges

The dangerous American fascist is the man who wants to do in the United States in an American way what Hitler did in Germany in a Prussian way.

- Henry A. Wallace

United, United States, American Way

A liberal knows that the only certainty in this life is change but believes that the change can be directed toward a constructive end.

- Henry A. Wallace

Directed, Toward, Believes, Constructive

There are probably several hundred thousand if we narrow the definition to include only those who in their search for money and power are ruthless and deceitful.

- Henry A. Wallace

Include, Hundred, Several, Ruthless

The myth of fascist efficiency has deluded many people.

- Henry A. Wallace

Efficiency, Myth, Deluded, Fascist

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