Quotes from Eugene V. Debs

I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth, and I am a citizen of the world.

It is better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.

While there is a lower class, I am in it, while there is a criminal element, I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.

The class which has the power to rob upon a large scale has also the power to control the government and legalize their robbery.

The protection the government owes you and fails to provide, you are morally bound to provide for yourselves.

If I were hungry and friendless today, I would rather take my chances with a saloon-keeper than with the average preacher.

When great changes occur in history when great principles are involved as a rule the majority are wrong.

I am for Socialism because I am for humanity.

I would not be a Moses to lead you into the Promised Land, because if I could lead you into it, someone else could lead you out of it.

Those who produce should have, but we know that those who produce the most - that is, those who work hardest, and at the most difficult and most menial tasks, have the least.

You need at this time especially to know that you are fit for something better than slavery and cannon fodder.

The most heroic word in all languages is revolution.

You have got to unite in the same labor union and in the same political party and strike and vote together, and the hour you do that, the world is yours.

I am not a labor leader. I don't want you to follow me or anyone else. If you are looking for a Moses to lead you out of the capitalist wilderness you will stay right where you are. I would not lead you into this promised land if I could, because if I could lead you in, someone else could lead you out.

While there is a lower class I am in it, while there is a criminal element I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.

I have no country to fight for my country is the earth, and I am a citizen of the world.

When great changes occur in history, when great principles are involved, as a rule the majority are wrong.

Those who produce should have, but we know that those who produce the most - that is, those who work hardest, and at the most difficult and most menial tasks, have the least.

The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and all to lose - especially their lives.

The rights of one are as sacred as the rights of a million.

The truth has always been dangerous to the rule of the rogue, the exploiter, the robber. So the truth must be supressed.

I'd rather vote for something I want and not get it than vote for something I don't want, and get it.

The American people can have anything they want; the trouble is, they don't know what they want.

The people can have anything they want, the only problem is they do not want anything.