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."

“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

All Quotes by Paul Wellstone

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

— Paul Wellstone

Life

“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

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

— Paul Wellstone

Money

“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

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

— Paul Wellstone

Politics

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

— Paul Wellstone

Politics

“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

“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

“The American polity is infected with a serious imbalance of power between elites and masses, a power which is the principal threat to our democracy.”

— Paul Wellstone

Power

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

— Paul Wellstone

Politics

“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

“The only way to change is to vote. People are responsible.”

— Paul Wellstone

Change

“Education and democracy have the same goal: the fullest possible development of human capabilities.”

— Paul Wellstone

Education

“Politics is not about money.”

— Paul Wellstone

Politics

“Our politics are our deepest form of expression: they mirror our past experiences and reflect our dreams and aspirations for the future.”

— Paul Wellstone

Dreams

“Sometimes, the only realists are the dreamers.”

— Paul Wellstone

Dreams

“It is the belief that extremes and excesses of inequality must be reduced so that each person is free to fully develop his or her full potential. This is why we take precious time out of our lives and give it to politics.”

— Paul Wellstone

Politics

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

— Paul Wellstone

Future