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"With optimism, you look upon the sunny side of things. People say, 'Studs, you're an optimist.' I never said I was an optimist. I have hope because what's the alternative to hope? Despair? If you have despair, you might as well put your head in the oven."
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"I read some, and then visited with people involved in this curious, exciting and somewhat misunderstood sub-culture. I met with a fang maker, who offered to fit me for an exquisite pair."

"People have managed to avert their eyes and hope for the best."

"A lot of compelling stories in the world aren't being told, and the fact that people don't know about them compounds the suffering."

"There is always something infinitely mean about other people's tragedies."

"I'd like to get four people who do cart wheels very good, and make a cart."

"I am attracted to people who make this effort in knowing what suits them - they are individual and stylish."
Explore more quotes by Studs Terkel


"When you become part of something, in some way you count. It could be a march; it could be a rally, even a brief one. You're part of something, and you suddenly realize you count. To count is very important."


"That's why I wrote this book: to show how these people can imbue us with hope. I read somewhere that when a person takes part in community action, his health improves. Something happens to him or to her biologically. It's like a tonic."


"Nonetheless, do I have respect for people who believe in the hereafter? Of course I do. I might add, perhaps even a touch of envy too, because of the solace."


"I want to praise activists through the years. I praise those of the past as well, to have them honored."


"I think it's realistic to have hope. One can be a perverse idealist and say the easiest thing: 'I despair. The world's no good.' That's a perverse idealist. It's practical to hope, because the hope is for us to survive as a human species. That's very realistic."
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