Democracy rests upon two pillars: one, the principle that all men are equally entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; and the other, the conviction that such equal opportunity will most advance civilization.
Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.
We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both.
However great his outward conformity, the immigrant is not Americanized unless his interests and affections have become deeply rooted here. And we properly demand of the immigrant even more than this. He must be brought into complete harmony with our...
I abhor averages. I like the individual case. A man may have six meals one day and none the next, making an average of three meals per day, but that is not a good way to live.
What are the American ideals? They are the development of the individual for his own and the common good; the development of the individual through liberty; and the attainment of the common good through democracy and social justice.
When those of Jewish blood exhibit moral or intellectual superiority, genius or special talent, we feel pride in them, even if they have abjured the faith like Spinoza, Marx, Disraeli or Heine. Despite the meditations of pundits or the decrees of cou...
If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you.
During most of my life, my contact with Jews and Judaism was slight. I gave little thought to their problems, save in asking myself, from time to time, whether we were showing by our lives due appreciation of the opportunities which this hospitable c...
If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.
The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in the insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding.
Men long for an afterlife in which there apparently is nothing to do but delight in heaven's wonders.
There are no shortcuts in evolution.
The most important political office is that of the private citizen.
Let no American imagine that Zionism is inconsistent with patriotism. Multiple loyalties are objectionable only if they are inconsistent.
In the frank expression of conflicting opinions lies the greatest promise of wisdom in governmental action.
