Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Rooseveltwas an American politician, diplomat, and activist. She was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, having held the post from March 1933 to April 1945 during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms in office, and served as United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1945 to 1952. President Harry S. Truman later called her the "First Lady of the World" in tribute to her human rights achievements...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPolitical Wife
Date of Birth11 October 1884
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
I have always seen life personally; my interest or sympathy or indignation is not aroused by an abstract cause but by the plight of a single person...Out of my response to an individual develops an awareness of a problem to the community, then to the country, then to the world.
I found that almost everyone had something interesting to contribute to my education.
I do not think I will ever become deadened, because I live in other people's lives, I must admit there are times when it weighs medown because I can't do some of the things I want.
As life developed, I faced each problem as it came along. As my activities and work broadened and reached out, I never tried to shirk. I tried never to evade an issue. When I found I had something to do--I just did it.
Life is meant to be lived.
... any citizen should be willing to give all that he has to give his country in work or sacrifice in times of crisis.
Somehow we must be able to show people that democracy is not about words, but action.
I could never say in the morning, "I have a headache and cannot do thus and so". Headache or no headache, thus and so had to be done.
We women are callow fledglings as compared with the wise old birds who manipulate the political machinery, and we still hesitate to believe that a woman can fill certain positions in public life as competently and adequately as a man. For instance, it is certain that women do not want a woman for President. Nor would they have the slightest confidence in her ability to fulfill the functions of that office. Every woman who fails in a public position confirms this, but every woman who succeeds creates confidence.
...but there isn't going to be any First Lady. There is just to be plain, ordinary Mrs. Roosevelt...I never wanted to be the president's wife, and don't want it now. You don't quite believe me, do you? Very likely no one would-except possibly some woman who had had the job.
Do one thing everyday that scares you. Those small things that make us uncomfortable help us build courage to do the work we do.
Beautiful old people are works of art.
So, after all, we are but puppets, creatures of our fate, not commanding it but being molded by it.
There is a widespread understanding among the people of this nation, and probably among the people of the world, that there is no safety except through the prevention of war.