Quotes from Paul Wellstone

We must renew democracy itself. We have to fight cynicism and inertia and restore faith in the advancement of our country.

The future will not belong to those who sit on the sidelines. The future will not belong to the cynics. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

I think the future also will not belong to those who are cynical or those who stand on the sidelines

Education and democracy have the same goal: the fullest possible development of human capabilities.

The future will belong to those who have passion and are willing to work hard to make our country better.

If a teacher does not involve himself, his values, his commitments, in the course of discussion, why should the students?

The only way to change is to vote. People are responsible.

There are three critical ingredients to democratic renewal and progressive change in America: good public policy, grassroots organizing and electoral politics.

Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning.

Politics isn't about big money or power games it's about the improvement of people's lives.

I don't think politics has anything to do with left, right, or center. It has to do with trying to do right by people.

I think the future also will not belong to those who are cynical or those who stand on the sidelines.

I emphasize self-esteem, self-confidence, and dignity, not as an ideal, but as a real test of community organization. Without leadership development, community organizations do not have staying power.

Sometimes, the only realists are the dreamers.

Our politics are our deepest form of expression: they mirror our past experiences and reflect our dreams and aspirations for the future.

The American polity is infected with a serious imbalance of power between elites and masses, a power which is the principal threat to our democracy.

Politics is about the improvement of people's lives. It's about advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and the world. Politics is about doing well for the people.

What makes community organizing especially attractive is the faith it places in the ability of the poor to make decisions for themselves.

It is the belief that extremes and excesses of inequality must be reduced so that each person is free to fully develop his or her full potential. This is why we take precious time out of our lives and give it to politics.

Politics is not about power.

The first task in teaching is to bring to consciousness what the students already believe by virtue of their personal experiences about themselves and society.

When too many Americans don't vote or participate, some see apathy and despair. I see disappointment and even outrage. And I believe that out of this frustration can come hope and action.

I saw as a teacher how, if you take that spark of learning that those children have, and you ignite it, you can take a child from any background to a lifetime of creativity and accomplishment.

Politics is not about money.