Quotes by Activist | Beyond Motive 2/46

top of page

Quotes by Activist

"The ultimate end of all revolutionary social change is to establish the sanctity of human life, the dignity of man, the right of every human being to liberty and well-being."

"The ultimate end of all revolutionary social change is to establish the sanctity of human life, the dignity of man, the right of every human being to liberty and well-being."

Emma Goldman, Lithuanian Activist

Change, Life, Being, Dignity

32

"Since Israel does not differentiate between attacking this group or that, we are saying our people can work individually or collectively to face this aggression."

"Since Israel does not differentiate between attacking this group or that, we are saying our people can work individually or collectively to face this aggression."

Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian Activist

Work, People, Aggression, Israel

32

"Israel, as the Jewish state, must disappear from the map."

"Israel, as the Jewish state, must disappear from the map."

Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian Activist

32

"On rare occasions one does hear of a miraculous case of a married couple falling in love after marriage, but on close examination it will be found that it is a mere adjustment to the inevitable."

"On rare occasions one does hear of a miraculous case of a married couple falling in love after marriage, but on close examination it will be found that it is a mere adjustment to the inevitable."

Emma Goldman, Lithuanian Activist

Love, Marriage, Examination, Will

31

"If I survive, I will spend my whole life at the oven door seeing that no one is denied bread and, so as to give a lesson of charity, especially those who did not bring flour."

"If I survive, I will spend my whole life at the oven door seeing that no one is denied bread and, so as to give a lesson of charity, especially those who did not bring flour."

Jose Marti, Cuban Activist

Life, Charity, Will

31

"There is so much that we need to do for our country. I don't think that we can afford to wait."

"There is so much that we need to do for our country. I don't think that we can afford to wait."

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese Activist

Nation, Country

31

"But the leaders of the OIC could not even accept Mahathir's proposal, yet they talk about respect and honour."

"But the leaders of the OIC could not even accept Mahathir's proposal, yet they talk about respect and honour."

Abu Bakar Bashir, Indonesian Activist

Leadership, Leaders, Respect, Talk

31

"In these negotiations we are not a helpless object, although great world powers are involved. We play an active role and try to influence our destiny; we have our own trump cards and we use them."

"In these negotiations we are not a helpless object, although great world powers are involved. We play an active role and try to influence our destiny; we have our own trump cards and we use them."

Alija Izetbegovic, Bosniak Activist

Cards, Destiny, Influence, Play

31

"Our national history has so often filled us with bitterness and the feeling of helplessness."

"Our national history has so often filled us with bitterness and the feeling of helplessness."

Lech Walesa, Polish Activist

History, Bitterness, Feeling

30

"I read upon the subject and grew more and more interested, and after a time I became a member of the National Board, and had duties and responsibilities that kept me busy after my day's work was done."

"I read upon the subject and grew more and more interested, and after a time I became a member of the National Board, and had duties and responsibilities that kept me busy after my day's work was done."

Rose Schneiderman, Polish Activist

Time, Work, Day

30

"The Afghans did not have sophisticated weapons like the Soviets did, but with their faith they defeated a superpower."

"The Afghans did not have sophisticated weapons like the Soviets did, but with their faith they defeated a superpower."

Abu Bakar Bashir, Indonesian Activist

30

"What use is revelation or religion if it doesnt change anything?"

"What use is revelation or religion if it doesnt change anything?"

Abu Bakar Bashir, Indonesian Activist

Change, Religion

30

"Anarchism is the great liberator of man from the phantoms that have held him captive; it is the arbiter and pacifier of the two forces for individual and social harmony."

"Anarchism is the great liberator of man from the phantoms that have held him captive; it is the arbiter and pacifier of the two forces for individual and social harmony."

Emma Goldman, Lithuanian Activist

Social Issues, Harmony, Man

30

"Some say that AIDS came from the monkeys, and I doubt that because we have been living with monkeys from time immemorial, others say it was a curse from God, but I say it cannot be that."

"Some say that AIDS came from the monkeys, and I doubt that because we have been living with monkeys from time immemorial, others say it was a curse from God, but I say it cannot be that."

Wangari Maathai, Kenyan Activist

Time, God, Doubt, Living

30

"Where are the Muslim people's sponsors? Where are its kings? Where are its leaders? The Muslim people is calling upon you, Jerusalem is appealing to you, will anyone answer?"

"Where are the Muslim people's sponsors? Where are its kings? Where are its leaders? The Muslim people is calling upon you, Jerusalem is appealing to you, will anyone answer?"

Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian Activist

People, Muslim, Kings, Leaders

29

"A grain of poetry suffices to season a century."

"A grain of poetry suffices to season a century."

Jose Marti, Cuban Activist

29

"To use for our exclusive benefit what is not ours is theft."

"To use for our exclusive benefit what is not ours is theft."

Jose Marti, Cuban Activist

29

"People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?"

"People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?"

Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Activist

Positive, People, Negative, Wrong

29

"In the past there was a difference between the conditions in which Hizballah operated in Lebanon and the conditions of resistance operated in Palestine."

"In the past there was a difference between the conditions in which Hizballah operated in Lebanon and the conditions of resistance operated in Palestine."

Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian Activist

Difference, Palestine, Past

29

"We really have to understand the person we want to love. If our love is only a will to possess, it is not love. If we only think of ourselves, if we know only our own needs and ignore the needs of the other person, we cannot love."

"We really have to understand the person we want to love. If our love is only a will to possess, it is not love. If we only think of ourselves, if we know only our own needs and ignore the needs of the other person, we cannot love."

Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Activist

Love, Needs, Want, Will

29

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."

Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Activist

29

"In all cases our stance will be determined by what serves the interests of the Palestinian people."

"In all cases our stance will be determined by what serves the interests of the Palestinian people."

Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian Activist

29

"The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too. Help, you women of privilege, give her the ballot to fight with."

"The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too. Help, you women of privilege, give her the ballot to fight with."

Rose Schneiderman, Polish Activist

Woman, Women, Fight, Help, Privilege

28

"Our strategy is to defend ourselves against an occupying army and against settlers and settlements."

"Our strategy is to defend ourselves against an occupying army and against settlers and settlements."

Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian Activist

28

"One cannot be too extreme in dealing with social ills; the extreme thing is generally the true thing."

"One cannot be too extreme in dealing with social ills; the extreme thing is generally the true thing."

Emma Goldman, Lithuanian Activist

Social Issues, Extreme

28

"Woman, essentially a purist, is naturally bigoted and relentless in her effort to make others as good as she thinks they ought to be."

"Woman, essentially a purist, is naturally bigoted and relentless in her effort to make others as good as she thinks they ought to be."

Emma Goldman, Lithuanian Activist

28

"The history of the world shows that peoples and societies do not have to pass through a fixed series of stages in the course of development."

"The history of the world shows that peoples and societies do not have to pass through a fixed series of stages in the course of development."

Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese Activist

History, Development, World

28

"All in all this is a difficult political struggle which will go on for years, in which our people won't die anymore; I'm not sure how much we will be able to win, but I'm certain that we won't loose anything that we have now."

"All in all this is a difficult political struggle which will go on for years, in which our people won't die anymore; I'm not sure how much we will be able to win, but I'm certain that we won't loose anything that we have now."

Alija Izetbegovic, Bosniak Activist

People, Now, Struggle, Will

28

"Once serious political dialogue has begun, the international community can assume that we have achieved genuine progress along the road to real democratisation."

"Once serious political dialogue has begun, the international community can assume that we have achieved genuine progress along the road to real democratisation."

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese Activist

Progress, Community, Road

28

"When we think of the state of the economy, we are not thinking in terms of money flow. We are thinking in terms of the effect on everyday lives of people."

"When we think of the state of the economy, we are not thinking in terms of money flow. We are thinking in terms of the effect on everyday lives of people."

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese Activist

Money, People, Economy, Effect

28

"Crime is naught but misdirected energy."

"Crime is naught but misdirected energy."

Emma Goldman, Lithuanian Activist

27

"Woman, no less than man, can qualify herself for the more onerous occupations of life."

"Woman, no less than man, can qualify herself for the more onerous occupations of life."

Victoria Woodhull, American Activist

Life, Man, Occupations, Woman

27

"But if Sharon wants to occupy Gaza, let him come. Israel will pay the price."

"But if Sharon wants to occupy Gaza, let him come. Israel will pay the price."

Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian Activist

27

"Whatever help we may want from the international community now or in the future, we want to make sure that this help is tailored to help our people to help themselves."

"Whatever help we may want from the international community now or in the future, we want to make sure that this help is tailored to help our people to help themselves."

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese Activist

People, Community, Future, Help

27

"I am working to make sure we don't only protect the environment, we also improve governance."

"I am working to make sure we don't only protect the environment, we also improve governance."

Wangari Maathai, Kenyan Activist

27

"I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it's for or against."

"I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it's for or against."

Malcolm X, American Activist

27

"The FBI has always supported big business and big government."

"The FBI has always supported big business and big government."

Leonard Peltier, Ojibwa Activist

Business, Government

26

"African women in general need to know that it's OK for them to be the way they are - to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence."

"African women in general need to know that it's OK for them to be the way they are - to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence."

Wangari Maathai, Kenyan Activist

Strength, Women, Fear, African

26

"We have women working in the foundries, stripped to the waist, if you please, because of the heat."

"We have women working in the foundries, stripped to the waist, if you please, because of the heat."

Rose Schneiderman, Polish Activist

26

"Humility is a great quality of leadership which derives respect and not just fear or hatred."

"Humility is a great quality of leadership which derives respect and not just fear or hatred."

Yousef Munayyer, Palestinian Activist

Leadership, Quality, Fear, Hatred

26

"By working hard we could make an average of about $5 a week. We would have made more but had to provide our own machines, which cost us $45, we paying for them on the installment plan. We paid $5 down and $1 a month after that."

"By working hard we could make an average of about $5 a week. We would have made more but had to provide our own machines, which cost us $45, we paying for them on the installment plan. We paid $5 down and $1 a month after that."

Rose Schneiderman, Polish Activist

26

"As far as the sovereignty of Bosnia-Hercegovina is concerned we agreed to have limited sovereignty for a limited time and that is clear from the Dayton Agreement."

"As far as the sovereignty of Bosnia-Hercegovina is concerned we agreed to have limited sovereignty for a limited time and that is clear from the Dayton Agreement."

Alija Izetbegovic, Bosniak Activist

Time, Agreement

26

"The reason why I have survived as long as I have survived is what my friends, comrades and supporters thought was an extraordinarily cautious approach."

"The reason why I have survived as long as I have survived is what my friends, comrades and supporters thought was an extraordinarily cautious approach."

Ernst Zundel, German Activist

Friendship, Thought, Friends, Reason

26

"I was surprised by the response of young people because there is a perception that those younger than the 1988 generation are not interested in politics."

"I was surprised by the response of young people because there is a perception that those younger than the 1988 generation are not interested in politics."

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese Activist

Politics, People, Perception

25

"You went up to be examined with the other Jewish children, your heart heavy about that matter of your nose."

"You went up to be examined with the other Jewish children, your heart heavy about that matter of your nose."

Mary Antin, Russian Activist

Heart, Children

25

"We are not out to boast that there is so much percentage of growth per year. Our real concern is how it affects the lives of people, the future of our country."

"We are not out to boast that there is so much percentage of growth per year. Our real concern is how it affects the lives of people, the future of our country."

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese Activist

People, Growth, Concern, Country

25

"The best protection any woman can have... is courage."

"The best protection any woman can have... is courage."

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, American Activist

Courage, Protection, Woman

25

"There is no such thing as security. There never has been."

"There is no such thing as security. There never has been."

Germaine Greer, Australian Activist

25

"I believe that the people, instead of pretty lies, should be told the truth, no matter how ugly it may be. What can we do, destiny hasn't been kind to us; but, with the help of God, we will prevail."

"I believe that the people, instead of pretty lies, should be told the truth, no matter how ugly it may be. What can we do, destiny hasn't been kind to us; but, with the help of God, we will prevail."

Alija Izetbegovic, Bosniak Activist

God, Truth, People, Destiny

25

"There are house demolitions and destruction all over the West Bank and Gaza. Just yesterday in Gaza they demolished three towers under the pretext that they were built close to a settlement."

"There are house demolitions and destruction all over the West Bank and Gaza. Just yesterday in Gaza they demolished three towers under the pretext that they were built close to a settlement."

Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian Activist

Destruction, Yesterday

25

bottom of page