George McGovern Quotes

Courage doesn't always involve physical heroism in the face of death. It doesn't always require giant leaps worthy of celebration. Sometimes, courage is the willingness to speak the truth about what you see and to own what you say.

If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything.

It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.

To operate based on conviction and belief requires an acceptance that your actions could get you fired. This is different from pig-headed bravado, and it is different from putting the company at risk.

Political courage is not political suicide.

The courage of New England was the courage of conscience.

Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character.

Fighting for what is right is not always popular but is always necessary.

I guess coming out against actual evil takes guts.

I think people are hungry for someone who will stand up on principle.

Courage doesn't come by doing what everybody else says. Courage does by what you know is right.

I don't pick up fights casually. I fight for what is right.

You have to have enough conviction to stand for something. It doesn't matter if it's the opposing party or your own party.

I stand by what I believe in, I'm not afraid to speak up for what I think is right.

You have to stand up for what's right in life. Unless you do that... you're nothing.

Why is it that, among men, physical courage is a trait so plenteous yet moral courage is a trait so rare?

I do not regret having braved public opinion, when I knew it was wrong and was sure it would be merciless.

Without courage there cannot be truth, and without truth there can be no other virtue.

From long familiarity, we know what honor is. It is what enables the individual to do right in the face of complacency and cowardice. It is what enables the soldier to die alone, the political prisoner to resist, the singer to sing her song, hardly appreciated, on a side street.

When moral courage feels that it is in the right, there is no personal daring of which it is incapable.

Lord, give me the wisdom to know what's right and the courage to do what's right-even when it's hard.

If you have no enemies, you have no character. Taking a stand always creates opposition.

Mayors are very different, because mayors can't be on both sides of every issue. Mayors have to take an explicit stance. Just go with your gut and say what you believe, and you'll be fine. If you're not fine, at least you'll like what you see in the mirror.

They say you can know a man by his enemies, Dresden." He smiled, and laughter lurked beneath his next words, never quite surfacing. "You defy beings that should cow you into silence. You resist forces that are inevitable for no more reason than that you believe they should be resisted. You bow your head to neither demons nor angels, and you put yourself in harm's way to defend those who cannot defend themselves." He nodded slowly. "I think I like you.

I have never been sorry when I stood for what was right-even against severe criticism.