Quotes from Harry S. Truman

You can't get rich in politics unless you're a crook. - Harry S. Truman

some smart alecs of those days after World War I used to say: "The French fought for liberty, the British fought to control the seas, but the Americans fought for souvenirs.

I always remember an epitaph which is in the cemetery at Tombstone, Arizona. It says, "Here lies Jack Williams. He done his damnedest." I think that is the greatest epitaph a man can have.

The President may have a great many powers given to him by the Constitution and may have certain powers under certain laws which are given to him by the Congress of the United States; but the principal power that the President had is to bring people in and try to persuade them to do what they ought to do without persuasion.

In my generation, this was not the first occasion when the strong had attacked the weak. [...] Communism was acting in Korea just as Hitler, Mussolini, and the Japanese had acted ten, fifteen, and twenty years earlier. I felt certain that if South Korea was allowed to fall, communist leaders would be emboldened to override nations closer to our own shores.

Work Hard. Do your best. Keep your word. Never get too big for your britches. Trust in God. Have no fear; and Never forget a friend.

Democrats work to help people who need help. That other party, they work for people who don't need help. That's all there is to it.

I come to the office each morning and stay for long hours doing what has to be done to the best of my ability. And when you've done the best you can, you can't do any better.

The successful man has enthusiasm. Good work is never done in cold blood; heat is needed for forge anything. Every great achievement is the story of a flaming heart.

I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way.

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.

Give me a one-handed economist! All my economists say, On the one hand on the other.

Here lies Jack Williams. He done his damndest.

It's not the hand that signs the laws that holds the destiny of America. It's the hand that casts the ballot.

Actions are the seed of fate deeds grow into destiny.

There shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.

I had faith in Israel before it was established, I have faith in it now.

Of course, there are dangers in religious freedom and freedom of opinion. But to deny these rights is worse than dangerous, it is absolutely fatal to liberty.

There's nothing better than cake but more cake.

If you want a friend in Washington, buy a dog.

You members of this Conference are to be the architects of the better world. In your hands rests our future.

If you don't have your own goals, you'll be doomed to work toward someone else's.

Our goal must be not peace in our time, but peace for all time.