H

Harry S. Truman

40 quotes

Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) was the 33rd President of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. He made some of the most consequential decisions of the 20th century, including the use of atomic weapons against Japan, the Marshall Plan for European recovery, and the creation of NATO. Truman was known for his plain-spoken honesty and the famous sign on his desk: "The Buck Stops Here."

“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.”

— Harry S. Truman

Courage

All Quotes by Harry S. Truman

“The reward of suffering is experience.”

— Harry S. Truman

Experience

“My father was not a failure. After all, he was the father of a president of the United States.”

— Harry S. Truman

Dad

“Nixon is one of the few in the history of this country to run for high office talking out of both sides of his mouth at the same time and lying out of both sides.”

— Harry S. Truman

History

“We shall never be able to remove suspicion and fear as potential causes of war until communication is permitted to flow, free and open, across international boundaries.”

— Harry S. Truman

Communication

“In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves... self-discipline with all of them came first.”

— Harry S. Truman

Great

“The atom bomb was no 'great decision.' It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness.”

— Harry S. Truman

Great

“Experience has shown how deeply the seeds of war are planted by economic rivalry and social injustice.”

— Harry S. Truman

Experience

“I would rather have peace in the world than be President.”

— Harry S. Truman

Peace

“The United Nations is designed to make possible lasting freedom and independence for all its members.”

— Harry S. Truman

Freedom

“Art is parasitic on life, just as criticism is parasitic on art.”

— Harry S. Truman

Art

“The Marine Corps is the Navy's police force and as long as I am President that is what it will remain. They have a propaganda machine that is almost equal to Stalin's.”

— Harry S. Truman

History

“When even one American - who has done nothing wrong - is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth - then all Americans are in peril.”

— Harry S. Truman

Fear

“All my life, whenever it comes time to make a decision, I make it and forget about it.”

— Harry S. Truman

Time

“Those who want the Government to regulate matters of the mind and spirit are like men who are so afraid of being murdered that they commit suicide to avoid assassination.”

— Harry S. Truman

Government

“You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.”

— Harry S. Truman

Politics

“When you have an efficient government, you have a dictatorship.”

— Harry S. Truman

Government

“All the president is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing, and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway.”

— Harry S. Truman

Politics

“Study men, not historians.”

— Harry S. Truman

Men

“There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.”

— Harry S. Truman

History

“It's plain hokum. If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em. It's an old political trick. But this time it won't work.”

— Harry S. Truman

Time