Hubert Humphrey Quotes

Societies should be judged by how they treat the weakest among them.

The test of civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless members.

We should stand up for those who can't protect themselves. Support kids and families who can't support themselves.

As I have said before, our society cannot be truly prosperous until it respects the rights of the most vulnerable among us.

Any civilization which respects itself admits to its basic responsibility of providing for its members in need. But few civilizations have achieved greatness by treating all their members as needy.

I think we ought to provide much more dignity and respect to individuals who need some care and assistance, whether they are chronically ill or disabled or seniors, it's the right thing for this country to do.

My definition of a decent society is one that first of all takes care of its losers, and protects its weak.

If you truly believe in the value of life, you care about all of the weakest and most vulnerable members of society.

The essence of government lies with unceasing concern for the welfare and dignity and decency and innate integrity of life for every individual.

The story of America is the story of an ever widening circle of human care and responsibility.

The fundamental democratic principles on which American Society is organized, are those principles of justice and mercy by which the guilty, the ignorant, the needy, and the infirm, are saved and blessed.

Compassion is not a sloppy sentimental feeling for people ... it is an absolutely practical belief that regardless of a person's background, ability or ability to pay, he should be provided with the best that society has to offer.

History will judge societies and governments — and their institutions — not by how big they are or how well they serve the rich and the powerful, but by how effectively they respond to the needs of the poor and the helpless.

We need leadership in this country, which will improve the lives of working families, the children, the elderly, the sick and the poor. We need leadership which brings our people together and makes us stronger.

We will be judged as a society and as a culture by how we treated our meanest and most vulnerable citizens. If we keep going the way we're going, we will be judged very, very harshly - and sooner, perhaps, than we think.

You judge a society by how it treats its citizens. We must do our best to ensure that every child can live in comfort and security, with the best possible education.

Justice that is not rooted in equity, in social welfare, and in community is not justice at all.

When I think about where most of Scripture points me, it is toward defending the poor, and the immigrant, and the stranger, and the prisoner, and the outcast, and those who are left behind by the way society works.

In my opinion we don't take care of our disabled people well enough. We don't take care of our elderly well enough. We should honor them more than we do.

I am passionate about human rights.

I think a lot of the source of how people are treated depends on the fact if someone recognizes them as a human being or not, you know what I mean?

I have always striven to raise the voice of hope for a world where hate gives way to respect and oppression to liberation.

I'm passionate about people. I've spent my life in advocacy. People matter - whether or not we agree on the issue, people matter.

And each of us can practice rights ourselves, treating each other without discrimination, respecting each other's dignity and rights.

I am confident that if we stand for the hope and freedom of others we will make our own freedom more secure.