“Reformers must carefully plan how and what they are to construct before they tear down what exists.”

The Wisconsin Idea, 1912

“To discriminate against a thoroughly upright citizen because he belongs to some particular church, or because, like Abraham Lincoln, he has not avowed his allegiance to any church, is an outrage against that liberty or conscience which is one of the foundations of American life.”

Letter to J. C. Martin, November 6, 1908

“Our greatest statesmen have always been those who believed in the nation – who had faith in the power of our people to spread until they should become the mightiest among the peoples of the world.”

The Strenuous Life, 1900

“Labor organizations are like other organizations, like organizations of capitalists; sometimes they act very well and sometimes they act very badly. We should consistently favor them when they act well, and as fearlessly oppose them when they act badly.”

Berkeley, California, March 23, 1911

“We do not, as a people, suffer from lack of criticism, but we do suffer from the lack of impartial and intelligent criticism.”

Century, February 1890

“Wise laws and fearless and upright administration of the laws can give the opportunity for such prosperity as we see about us. But that is all that they can do. When the conditions have been created which make prosperity possible, then each individual man must achieve it for himself by his own energy and thrift and business intelligence.”

Providence, Rhode Island, August 23, 1902

“The worst of all fears is the fear of living.”

An Autobiography, 1913

“The power of the journalist is great, but he is entitled to neither respect nor admiration because of that power unless it is used right.”

Speech at the Sorbonne, April 23, 1910

“We stand against all tyranny, by the few or by the many.”

Speech in New York City, May 12, 1900

“Honesty is not so much a credit as an absolute prerequisite to efficient service to the public.”

Outlook, May 12, 1900

“All who under fire join in the exhausting and perilous labor which brings victory.  These are the real heroes.  These are the men who do the one great and indispensable task which entitles them forever to be honored by all true Americans.”

The Great Adventure, 1918

“The genuine reformer should realize that the cause he champions is especially jeopardized by the mock reformer who does what he can to make reform a laughing-stock among decent men.”

Century, June 1900