Idealists Quotes

From the saintly and single-minded idealist to the fanatic is often but a step.

There is no proletarian, not even a Communist movement, that has not operated in the interests of money, and for the time being permitted by money – and that without the idealists among its leaders having the slightest suspicion of the fact.

The isolationists are preparing again to play somewhat the same role they played at the end of World War I. They are idealists, but they do not want to pay the price of practical idealism or of peace for the world. They still believe that the United States can prosper all alone, can have peace all alone, can be a little island apart from the rest of the world.

Liberal activists would often rather be right than be President.

In those days…we were all friends – all willing to help one another…We were very radical, however, in our views of right and wrong…. We opposed bad men everywhere, supported all fugitive slaves who came to us, and worked like beavers for the right

The idealists will always be in society, and we will survive.

Usually, so far as improvement in the people's economic conditions is concerned, humanitarians simply play the role of the busybody.

It is curious that Christianity, which is idealism, is sturdily defended by the brokers, and steadily attacked by the idealists.

It is the nature of the idealist to sacrifice all that he has for the triumph of his idea. If one must relinquish one’s ideal in even the smallest measure, it is not a full relinquishment. Instead, one keeps a watchful eye for an opportune moment to come and collect his own. Thus, such compromises (with idealists) are untrustworthy.

I'm an idealist. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way.

God save me from idealists.

In the construction of a country, it is not the practical workers but the idealists and planners that are difficult to find.

As far as learning was concerned, Marx was, and still is, incomparably more advanced than I. I knew nothing at that time of political economy, I had not yet rid myself of my metaphysical observations... He called me a sentimental idealist and he was right; I called him a vain man, perfidious and crafty, and I also was right.

When I say that terrorism is war against civilization, I may be met by the objection that terrorists are often idealists pursuing worthy ultimate aims -- national or regional independence, and so forth. I do not accept this argument. I cannot agree that a terrorist can ever be an idealist, or that the objects sought can ever justify terrorism. The impact of terrorism, not merely on individual nations, but on humanity as a whole, is intrinsically evil, necessarily evil and wholly evil.

What struck me more than anything is how the people that are involved in government start out from a place of really wanting to do well, no matter what kind of political spectrum they're on, how they have to hold onto that warm fuzzy place in their heart while they're stuck in the machine.

Yes, there is some zealotry among them; yes, some have proven to be crazies. But basically they are idealists .... How do you foster idealism without it becoming zealotry?

Children see things very well sometimes - and idealists even better.

An idealist is a person who helps other people to be prosperous.

Idealists are foolish enough to throw caution to the winds. They have advanced mankind and have enriched the world.

The idealist's program of political or economic reform may be impracticable, absurd, demonstrably ridiculous; but it can never be successfully opposed merely by pointing out that this is the case. A negative opposition cannot be wholly effectual: there must be a competing idealism; something must be offered that is not only less objectionable but more desirable.

When they come downstairs from their Ivory Towers, idealists are very apt to walk straight into the gutter.

Too often people view idealists as naive.

Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

The silent majority distrusts people who believe in causes.

Optimists are usually wrong. But all the great change in history, positive change, was done by optimists.