William Jennings Bryan Quotes

Powerful William Jennings Bryan for Daily Growth

About William Jennings Bryan

William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) was an influential American orator and politician, best known for his long and unsuccessful quest to bring about the end of U.S. gold standard, and for his role in the Scopes Monkey Trial. Born on a farm in Salem, Illinois, Bryan displayed an early aptitude for public speaking and debating. He earned a law degree from Union College in Lincoln, Illinois, and was admitted to the bar in 1883. Bryan's political career began in earnest in 1890 when he was elected as a U.S. Representative from Nebraska. He served two terms before successfully running for the Senate in 1894. During his tenure in Congress, Bryan emerged as a prominent voice of the Populist movement, advocating for the rights of farmers and laborers against the growing influence of big business. In 1896, Bryan delivered the Cross of Gold speech at the Democratic National Convention, calling for free silver coinage to ease the burden on farmers. The speech catapulted him to national prominence and earned him the nickname "The Great Commoner." In 1900, Bryan was nominated for President by the Democrats, but lost in a landslide to William McKinley. Bryan ran again in 1908, but once more failed to secure the presidency. His most famous political moment came in 1925 when he served as the prosecution's key witness in the Scopes Monkey Trial, which focused on the teaching of evolution in schools. Despite Bryan's eloquent arguments, the defendant, John Scopes, was found guilty. Bryan's influence extended beyond politics. He authored several books, including "The First Battle: A Story of the Normans in England" and "The Menace of Puritanism," which reflected his deep interest in history and his concern about the role of religion in public life. Bryan remained a powerful figure in American politics until his death in 1925. His legacy continues to be felt today, particularly in debates over the intersection of religion and science.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The truth crushes its adversary."

This quote by William Jennings Bryan suggests that the truth, in its purest form, ultimately prevails over any opposition or falsity. It conveys a belief that the power of truth is such that it inevitably undermines or defeats its opponent, not through force or deceit, but through the inherent validity and integrity of truth itself. In essence, Bryan implies that in the long run, truth will always triumph over falsehoods or distortions.


"Men are not moved by God's law written on their hearts; men are moved by custom, tradition, and convenience."

This quote by William Jennings Bryan suggests that while people may have an inherent moral compass (the "God's law written on their hearts"), their actions are often influenced more by societal norms, traditions, and practical considerations rather than strict adherence to a divine law. In other words, human behavior is shaped more by cultural factors and convenience than by an innate sense of right and wrong.


"The Bible is not a science book."

This quote by William Jennings Bryan emphasizes that the Bible, being a religious text, is not intended to serve as a scientific reference. It suggests that while the Bible provides spiritual guidance and moral teachings, it does not contain facts about the natural world or scientific phenomena. Instead, people should turn to scientific literature for understanding the laws of nature and the mechanisms underlying them.


"You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."

This quote by William Jennings Bryan is a powerful metaphor. He's essentially saying that exploitative economic policies that prioritize wealth (symbolized by the "crown of thorns" or cross of gold) should not be imposed upon the working class ("mankind"). The burden of hardship and suffering caused by these policies should not be endured, just as Jesus was crucified on a cross. Bryan was advocating for economic justice, fairness, and alleviation of the suffering of the common people during his time.


"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... And all was originally good. It is man who introduced sin. And this sin spread over all the earth."

This quote by William Jennings Bryan suggests a religious perspective that attributes the inherent goodness of the universe to a divine creator (God) and posits humanity as the source of sin, which corrupts and degenerates the original goodness. In this view, the world is initially perfect but human actions lead to moral decay that spreads globally. The quote emphasizes the duality between creation's purity and humanity's responsibility for corruption.


Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.

- William Jennings Bryan

Magic, Burn, Country, Cities

This is not a contest between persons. The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error. I come to you in defense of a cause as holy as the cause of liberty - the cause of humanity.

- William Jennings Bryan

Citizen, Righteous, Clad, Contest

The humblest citizen of all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error.

- William Jennings Bryan

Citizen, Righteous, Clad, Hosts

Do not compute the totality of your poultry population until all the manifestations of incubation have been entirely completed.

- William Jennings Bryan

Been, Compute, Until, Poultry

If that vital spark that we find in a grain of wheat can pass unchanged through countless deaths and resurrections, will the spirit of man be unable to pass from this body to another?

- William Jennings Bryan

Will, Through, Pass, Vital

There is no more reason to believe that man descended from some inferior animal than there is to believe that a stately mansion has descended from a small cottage.

- William Jennings Bryan

Small, Reason, Some, Descended

Behold a republic standing erect while empires all around are bowed beneath the weight of their own armaments - a republic whose flag is loved while other flags are only feared.

- William Jennings Bryan

Flag, Other, Beneath, Behold

Evolution seems to close the heart to some of the plainest spiritual truths while it opens the mind to the wildest guesses advanced in the name of science.

- William Jennings Bryan

Mind, Some, Advanced, Opens

Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.

- William Jennings Bryan

Future, Destiny, Chance, Waited

The Imperial German Government will not expect the Government of the United States to omit any word or any act necessary to the performance of its sacred duty of maintaining the rights of the United States and its citizens and of safeguarding their free exercise and enjoyment.

- William Jennings Bryan

Exercise, United, German, Maintaining

No one can earn a million dollars honestly.

- William Jennings Bryan

Earn, Million, Honestly, Million Dollars

The parents have a right to say that no teacher paid by their money shall rob their children of faith in God and send them back to their homes skeptical, or infidels, or agnostics, or atheists.

- William Jennings Bryan

Rob, Shall, Atheists, Skeptical

There can be no settlement of a great cause without discussion, and people will not discuss a cause until their attention is drawn to it.

- William Jennings Bryan

Attention, Will, Cause, Settlement

None so little enjoy themselves, and are such burdens to themselves, as those who have nothing to do. Only the active have the true relish of life.

- William Jennings Bryan

Enjoy, Nothing, Active, Relish

Eloquent speech is not from lip to ear, but rather from heart to heart.

- William Jennings Bryan

Speech, Rather, Lip, Eloquent

Two people in a conversation amount to four people talking. The four are what one person says, what he really wanted to say, what his listener heard, and what he thought he heard.

- William Jennings Bryan

Thought, Amount, Listener, Conversation

Never be afraid to stand with the minority when the minority is right, for the minority which is right will one day be the majority.

- William Jennings Bryan

Never, Will, Which, Minority

If the Bible had said that Jonah swallowed the whale, I would believe it.

- William Jennings Bryan

Bible, Whale, Swallowed, Jonah

Anglo-Saxon civilization has taught the individual to protect his own rights; American civilization will teach him to respect the rights of others.

- William Jennings Bryan

Civilization, Individual, Protect

The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you.

- William Jennings Bryan

Behind, Get, Record, Successful

My place in history will depend on what I can do for the people and not on what the people can do for me.

- William Jennings Bryan

Me, Depend, Will, For The People

All the ills from which America suffers can be traced to the teaching of evolution.

- William Jennings Bryan

Teaching, Which, Suffers, Evolution

I hope the two wings of the Democratic Party may flap together.

- William Jennings Bryan

May, Democratic Party, Wings

One miracle is just as easy to believe as another.

- William Jennings Bryan

Believe, Just, Another, Miracle

If we have to give up either religion or education, we should give up education.

- William Jennings Bryan

Education, Give, Should, Either

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.