Maxine Waters Quotes

Powerful Maxine Waters for Daily Growth

About Maxine Waters

Maxine Waters (born August 15, 1938), an influential American politician, activist, and member of the Democratic Party, has made significant strides in the realm of U.S. politics. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, to a family of sharecroppers, she experienced firsthand the struggles of segregation and discrimination that spurred her into a life of advocacy. In 1961, Waters moved to Los Angeles, California, where she became actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement. She worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., co-founding the National Council for Negro Women's Southern California Chapter and the Community Alert Program. Her activism led her to become a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Black Panther Party. Waters entered politics in 1976 when she was elected to the California State Assembly, becoming the first woman to do so from South Central Los Angeles. In 1990, she was elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing California's 43rd district (now 45th). She has since been re-elected numerous times. Known for her outspoken and fiery rhetoric, Waters is a prominent figure in Congress. Her unwavering stance against injustice and commitment to empowering marginalized communities have earned her the moniker "Auntie Maxine" by her supporters. Notable works include sponsoring the One Hundred Percent Employment and Training Act of 1998, advocating for affordable housing, and pushing for financial reforms following the 2008 financial crisis. In recent years, Waters has been at the forefront of calls for accountability in political circles, particularly regarding alleged misconduct by President Donald Trump. Her quote, "Impeachment is not just about getting a president out of office, it's about corporate America understanding that they are going to pay a price if they get involved with this kind of corruption," encapsulates her continued fight for justice and ethics in politics.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."

This quote emphasizes that power and privilege do not relinquish their control without pressure and demand from those who seek change. It suggests that passivity or acceptance of the status quo is not sufficient to bring about progress, and that active demands for justice, equality, or other desired changes are essential. The quote implies a firm belief in the power of collective action, as it states that this has always been the means by which power concedes to new ideas or demands.


"I'm not afraid of anything. I'm afraid only of fear itself."

Maxine Waters suggests that she is unafraid of challenges or adversity, but what she fears most is the emotion of fear itself. She implies that allowing fear to control one's actions can be more debilitating than facing the actual obstacles themselves. This quote encourages bravery and resilience in the face of uncertainty or difficulty.


"We've got to stop talking about impeachment and start impeaching."

Maxine Waters, in this quote, is expressing a sense of urgency and action regarding the issue of impeachment. She suggests that discussing the possibility of impeachment isn't enough; rather, steps should be taken to initiate and carry out the process as soon as possible if deemed necessary for upholding the principles of accountability and justice in government.


"When you control the narrative, you control everything."

The quote "When you control the narrative, you control everything" suggests that shaping and managing how information is perceived and understood has significant influence over people's thoughts, feelings, and actions. Controlling the narrative implies having power over the conversation, discourse, or public discussion surrounding a particular topic or event. In other words, whoever dictates the storyline exerts considerable control in guiding society's interpretation of events, setting the agenda, shaping opinions, and ultimately determining the course of action taken by individuals and organizations. This quote underscores the importance of communication, persuasion, and strategic messaging in politics, business, and social movements, as well as emphasizing the significance of understanding the role of narrative in shaping our shared reality.


"If we stand up, if we speak out, we can win!"

This quote emphasizes that collective action and speaking out against injustice are essential for achieving success or victory. In other words, when individuals come together and use their voices to challenge oppressive systems, they have the power to effect change and bring about positive outcomes. It suggests that silence or passivity in the face of adversity is not an option; instead, it's crucial to stand up and engage actively to create a more equitable society.


Some people see me as someone who makes other people look bad... I often get a feeling most people don't know who I am, or have a clue, and I live with that. I don't try to prove anything by talking.

- Maxine Waters

Some, Prove, Other, Clue

We have a responsibility as elected officials to do good public policy in the best interest of all the people.

- Maxine Waters

Interest, Public, Elected, Public Policy

That's what mayors do. They lobby Congress to provide resources for their city.

- Maxine Waters

Congress, Provide, Lobby, Mayors

I don't have them down here asking me what my urban agenda is. I don't find them really doing in-depth stories on community-based organizations that have been struggling for a long time and who are out trying to get funds. They aren't interested in those stories.

- Maxine Waters

Doing, Here, Community-Based, Funds

I am one who believes in the power of the people. I am inspired when I see people hit the streets, who challenge their elected officials, and are willing to stand up and fight. I encourage it.

- Maxine Waters

Streets, I See, Willing, Stand Up

Why is it that Michael Flynn, who evidently has a great relationship with Putin, who has received payments for so-called speeches and who's spent a lot of time in Russia and was accused of talking about sanctions, he lied about it, and he got caught?

- Maxine Waters

Caught, About, Payments, Great Relationship

I don't have any presidential aspirations. If the millennials want me to do it, I'd do it, though.

- Maxine Waters

Me, Want, Though, Aspirations

We do not have a crisis at Freddie Mac, and particularly Fannie Mae, under the outstanding leadership of Frank Raines.

- Maxine Waters

Crisis, Frank, Particularly, Mac

I'm accustomed to being harassed.

- Maxine Waters

Being, Accustomed, Harassed

When I first experienced the millennial response to me, I had come out of a classified briefing, and I told the group of media individuals who were there that I didn't think James Comey had any credibility, and I threw up my hands and walked away - that went viral.

- Maxine Waters

Hands, Away, James, Viral

I'd like to say to women everywhere: don't allow these right-wing talking heads, these dishonorable people, to intimidate you or scare you.

- Maxine Waters

Scare, Like, Allow, Intimidate

I have been working hard trying to implement Dodd-Frank reforms. We went through a terrible crisis in 2008. Many people lost their homes.

- Maxine Waters

Crisis, Through, Been, Dodd-Frank

Guess what this liberal would be all about? This liberal would be about socializing.

- Maxine Waters

About, Would, Guess, Socializing

I could not remove myself from this debate about Trump. I could not abide his indecency. I could not live with the way he treated other people.

- Maxine Waters

Other, Treated, Trump, Abide

This country cannot tolerate the fact that someone worked with Russia to undermine our democracy.

- Maxine Waters

Country, Undermine, Worked, Tolerate

Donald Trump has defined himself very well, not only in the primary election where he was absolutely disrespectful to his colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle and for Fiorina, who he basically said, 'Who would vote for you? Look at her face.'

- Maxine Waters

Trump, Very, Donald, Primary

This nation has always struggled with how it was going to deal with poor people and people of color. Every few years you will see some great change in the way that they approach this. We've had the war on poverty that never really got into waging a real war on poverty.

- Maxine Waters

Color, Some, Deal, Waging

I am going to help show the American people that they too cannot trust him, that this is a man that does not live up to his promises, and this is a man who cheated students in the so-called Trump University.

- Maxine Waters

Trust, University, Trump, Promises

The constant drip drop of fraudulent activities coming out of Wells Fargo is absolutely outrageous.

- Maxine Waters

Drop, Constant, Activities, Fargo

This is a tough game. You can't be intimidated. You can't be frightened. And as far as I'm concerned, the Tea Party can go straight to hell.

- Maxine Waters

Game, Go, Concerned, Frightened

The women's movement was just coming into being, and I got involved with Gloria Steinem and Bella Abzug and all these great women. We then got involved with Carter, who was running for president, and we created the first International Women's Conference or the National Women's Conference for Carter.

- Maxine Waters

Running, Conference, Got, International

I saw the real difference between politicians who supported programs like Head Start and those who didn't. I started getting really excited about politics.

- Maxine Waters

Politics, Excited, Like, Real Difference

Reaching out to other people is important work. I am so pleased and honored that I'm getting the attention from the young people on social media. It's been missing.

- Maxine Waters

Young, Other, Been, Social Media

Priebus has been trying to clean up for Donald Trump for far too long. When he was making outrageous statements, when he was basically lying.

- Maxine Waters

Been, Trump, Donald, None

It's unusual for elected officials to step outside of the box.

- Maxine Waters

Outside, Elected, Officials

There's a history of enslaved African-Americans having to make their slave masters comfortable. This business of what we call skinning and grinning - that is something African-Americans are very much cognizant of.

- Maxine Waters

Business, Very, Having, Enslaved

We use language that has been designed to keep order, and to keep people in line.

- Maxine Waters

Line, Been, Use, Designed

I don't think it works to just be mad at them - Maxine Waters out ranting and kicking down the doors. It would be so easy to dismiss you and marginalize you.

- Maxine Waters

Think, Waters, Works, Dismiss

Women are prepared to run for office. They're prepared to show up. Oh yeah, women have big roles to play, and they have stepped up to the plate already.

- Maxine Waters

Play, Big, Stepped, Women Are

We have suffered discrimination. We have suffered isolation and undermining. But we stand up for America, oftentimes when others who think they are more patriotic, who say they are more patriotic, do not.

- Maxine Waters

Undermining, Patriotic, Discrimination

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.