Paul Wellstone

Paul Wellstone

26 quotes

Paul Wellstone is an American politician whose words have traveled far beyond their original audience. The range of their thinking — from Politics to Power — speaks to an intellectual restlessness that shows in every quote. 36 of Paul Wellstone's sharpest quotes live here, spanning themes of Politics, Power, Future, Teacher, and Money. Readers often gravitate to this one: "I think the future also will not belong to those who are cynical or those who stand on the sidelines."

“Politics is about the improvement of people's lives. It's about advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and the world. Politics is about doing well for the people.”

— Paul Wellstone

Peace

All Quotes by Paul Wellstone

“There are three critical ingredients to democratic renewal and progressive change in America: good public policy, grassroots organizing and electoral politics.”

— Paul Wellstone

Politics

“The future will belong to those who have passion and are willing to work hard to make our country better.”

— Paul Wellstone

Future

“We can and must move U.S. politics forward by means of committed participation.”

— Paul Wellstone

Politics

“I think the future also will not belong to those who are cynical or those who stand on the sidelines.”

— Paul Wellstone

Future

“The first task in teaching is to bring to consciousness what the students already believe by virtue of their personal experiences about themselves and society.”

— Paul Wellstone

Society

“Politics is not predictions and politics is not observations. Politics is what we do. Politics is what we do, politics is what we create, by what we work for, by what we hope for and what we dare to imagine.”

— Paul Wellstone

Hope

“What makes community organizing especially attractive is the faith it places in the ability of the poor to make decisions for themselves.”

— Paul Wellstone

Faith

“If a teacher does not involve himself, his values, his commitments, in the course of discussion, why should the students?”

— Paul Wellstone

Teacher

“Sometimes, the only realists are the dreamers.”

— Paul Wellstone

Dreams

“Politics is about the improvement of people's lives. It's about advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and the world. Politics is about doing well for the people.”

— Paul Wellstone

Peace

“Politics is not about money.”

— Paul Wellstone

Politics

“Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning.”

— Paul Wellstone

Politics

“Politics isn't about big money or power games it's about the improvement of people's lives.”

— Paul Wellstone

Money

“When too many Americans don't vote or participate, some see apathy and despair. I see disappointment and even outrage. And I believe that out of this frustration can come hope and action.”

— Paul Wellstone

Hope

“I saw as a teacher how, if you take that spark of learning that those children have, and you ignite it, you can take a child from any background to a lifetime of creativity and accomplishment.”

— Paul Wellstone

Learning

“Politics is not about power.”

— Paul Wellstone

Politics

“Never separate the life you live from the words you speak.”

— Paul Wellstone

Life

“A politics that is not sensitive to the concerns and circumstances of people's lives, a politics that does not speak to and include people, is an intellectually arrogant politics that deserves to fail.”

— Paul Wellstone

Politics

“I emphasize self-esteem, self-confidence, and dignity, not as an ideal, but as a real test of community organization. Without leadership development, community organizations do not have staying power.”

— Paul Wellstone

Leadership

“I don't think politics has anything to do with left, right, or center. It has to do with trying to do right by people.”

— Paul Wellstone

Politics