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Mary Harris Jones Quotes

Powerful Mary Harris Jones for Daily Growth

About Mary Harris Jones

Mary Harris Jones, popularly known as Mother Jones, was an influential American activist, trade union organizer, and journalist, born on May 1, 1837, in Cork, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in 1864. She became a trailblazer for workers' rights, women's suffrage, and fighting against child labor during the Industrial Revolution. Early life was marked by tragedy as she lost her family at a young age, which fueled her determination to help those less fortunate. Her first marriage ended in bankruptcy, leading her to become a dressmaker to support herself and her four children. It was this experience that sparked her awareness of the harsh working conditions faced by women and children in factories. In 1869, she married George Jones, a miner who shared her passion for social justice. However, their mine was destroyed in a flood, killing both of their sons. This event further radicalized Mary Harris, pushing her into the world of labor activism. She became involved with various trade unions and, as a skilled organizer, led strikes and demonstrations, earning the nickname "Mother Jones." Her major works include the successful mining unionization in Pennsylvania's anthracite coal fields (1890), her role in organizing the UP Railroad strike of 1894, and her advocacy for child labor reform. Her most famous quote, "Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living," encapsulates her philosophy of action over passivity. Mother Jones passed away on November 30, 1930, at the age of 93. Today, she is remembered as a tireless advocate for the downtrodden, a symbol of perseverance in the face of adversity, and a pioneer who fought to improve the lives of workers in America.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Poverty is the worst kind of poverty: a poverty of self-esteem."

This quote by Mary Harris Jones emphasizes that beyond the physical aspects of poverty, there's also an emotional or psychological dimension to it - a poverty of self-worth or self-esteem. It suggests that financial hardship can lead individuals to feel worthless, undervalued, and lacking in personal power, which further exacerbates their suffering. This insight underscores the importance of addressing both material and non-material aspects of poverty to promote true wellbeing.

"If I can't go straight ahead, I'll go around and around and around."

This quote by Mary Harris Jones conveys a strong sense of resilience and perseverance. She implies that when faced with obstacles or setbacks that prevent her from moving forward in a direct line, she will not give up but instead choose to find alternative paths to continue her journey. The repeated "around" suggests determination and persistent effort, demonstrating that obstacles are not insurmountable if one is willing to adapt, innovate, and keep trying different approaches until success is achieved.

"Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth."

This quote by Mary Harris Jones emphasizes the importance of speaking up for honesty, truth, compassion, justice, and against dishonesty, deceit, and greed. It suggests that if individuals worldwide courageously express their convictions, they can collectively bring about positive change in society. The message is a call to action, inspiring people to use their voices to combat the negative aspects of humanity and strive for a more equitable world.

"No day is longer than a day when you have an appetite, but no food."

This quote emphasizes the profound impact that hunger can have on one's perception of time. When faced with intense hunger, even a single day feels endless due to the constant preoccupation with finding sustenance. In essence, it suggests that physical need can distort our experience of time, making each moment seemingly longer as we grapple with our basic survival needs.

"Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up."

This quote by Mary Harris Jones emphasizes the importance of planning and organization in achieving a desired outcome effectively. By organizing one's thoughts, resources, or actions before undertaking a task, there is less likelihood of confusion and increased efficiency when the task is executed. Essentially, good organization minimizes chaos and helps ensure that efforts are focused and streamlined towards the intended goal.

I asked a man in prison once how he happened to be there and he said he had stolen a pair of shoes. I told him if he had stolen a railroad he would be a United States Senator.

- Mary Harris Jones

Railroad, United States, Had, Asked

Today the white child is sold for two dollars a week to the manufacturers.

- Mary Harris Jones

Week, White, Sold, Manufacturers

I am not afraid of the pen, or the scaffold, or the sword.

- Mary Harris Jones

I Am, Afraid, Scaffold, Sword

I am Mother Jones. The Government can't take my life and you can't take my arm, but you can take my suitcase.

- Mary Harris Jones

Life, My Life, Am, Suitcase

God almighty made women and the Rockefeller gang of thieves made the ladies.

- Mary Harris Jones

Gang, God Almighty, Almighty, Ladies

I'm not afraid of the press or the Militia.

- Mary Harris Jones

Afraid, Press, Militia

Reformation, like education, is a journey, not a destination.

- Mary Harris Jones

Education, Journey, Like, Reformation

I went West and took part in the strike of the machinists - the Southern Pacific Railroad, the corporation that swung California by its golden tail, that controlled its legislature, its farmers, its preachers, its workers.

- Mary Harris Jones

Railroad, Southern, Took, Preachers

I am not unaware that leaders betray, and sell out, and play false.

- Mary Harris Jones

I Am, Play, Sell, Unaware

I abide where there is a fight against wrong.

- Mary Harris Jones

Fight, Against, Where, Abide

Out of labor's struggle in Arizona came better conditions for the workers, who must everywhere, at all times, under advantage and disadvantage work out their own salvation.

- Mary Harris Jones

Salvation, Disadvantage, Struggle

And who is responsible for this appalling child slavery? Everyone.

- Mary Harris Jones

Everyone, Responsible, Appalling

I nursed men back to sanity who were driven to despair. I solicited clothes for the ragged children, for the desperate mothers. I laid out the dead, the martyrs of the strike.

- Mary Harris Jones

Desperate, Ragged, Laid, Despair

I will tell the truth wherever I please.

- Mary Harris Jones

Truth, Will, Tell, Wherever

Little girls and boys, barefooted, walked up and down between the endless rows of spindles, reaching thin little hands into the machinery to repair snapped threads.

- Mary Harris Jones

Hands, Repair, Snapped, Up And Down

What is a good enough principle for an American citizen ought to be good enough for the working man to follow.

- Mary Harris Jones

Citizen, Principle, Ought

Sit down and read. Educate yourself for the coming conflicts.

- Mary Harris Jones

Yourself, Educate, Read, Conflicts

I am not an anti to anything which will bring freedom to my class.

- Mary Harris Jones

Freedom, I Am, Which, Anti

Men's hearts are cold. They are indifferent.

- Mary Harris Jones

Men, Cold, Hearts, Indifferent

I have always advised men to read.

- Mary Harris Jones

Men, Always, Read, Advised

In Georgia where children work day and night in the cotton mills they have just passed a bill to protect song birds. What about the little children from whom all song is gone?

- Mary Harris Jones

Work, Song, Little Children, Protect

Sometimes it seemed to me I could not look at those silent little figures; that I must go north, to the grim coal fields, to the Rocky Mountain camps, where the labor fight is at least fought by grown men.

- Mary Harris Jones

Sometimes, Figures, Fought, Camps

Not all the coal that is dug warms the world.

- Mary Harris Jones

World, Coal, Dug

The strike of the miners in Arizona was one of the most remarkable strikes in the history of the American labor movement. Its peaceful character, its successful outcome, were due to that most remarkable character, Governor Hunt.

- Mary Harris Jones

Arizona, Hunt, Strike, Outcome

I believe that movements to suppress wrongs can be carried out under the protection of our flag.

- Mary Harris Jones

Flag, Carried, Movements, Wrongs

I would fight God Almighty Himself if He didn't play square with me.

- Mary Harris Jones

Play, Square, Almighty, God Almighty

What one state could not get alone, what one miner against a powerful corporation could not achieve, can be achieved by the union.

- Mary Harris Jones

Alone, Powerful, Could, Miner

Life comes to the miners out of their deaths, and death out of their lives.

- Mary Harris Jones

Life, Death, Lives, Miners

You know I took an oath to tell the truth when I took the witness stand.

- Mary Harris Jones

Truth, Witness, Took, Oath

My address is like my shoes. It travels with me.

- Mary Harris Jones

Me, Like, Address, Travels

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