Stevenson................in his own words

Adlai Stevenson (1900-1965) was Governor of Illinois, U.S. Ambassador the the United Nations, and two time presidential candidate of the Democratic party.  He had the misfortune to run twice against Dwight Eisenhower.  He was a graduate of Princeton and the Northwestern University School of Law.  You can read more about him here and here.  He said some interesting things:

"What counts now is not just what we are against, but what we are for. Who leads us is less important than what leads us — what convictions, what courage, what faith — win or lose. A man doesn't save a century, or a civilization, but a militant party wedded to a principle can."

"There is no evil in the atom, only in men's souls."

"If we value the pursuit of knowledge, we must be free to follow wherever that search may lead us. The free mind is not a barking dog, to be tethered on a ten-foot chain."

"Laws are never as effective as habits."

"Let's face it. Let's talk sense to the American people. Let's tell them the truth, that there are no gains without pains, that we are now on the eve of great decisions, not easy decisions, like resistance when you're attacked, but a long, patient, costly struggle which alone can assure triumph over the great enemies of man — war, poverty, and tyranny — and the assaults upon human dignity which are the most grievous consequences of each."

"Laws are never as effective as habits."

"A wise man does not try to hurry history. Many wars have been avoided by patience and many have been precipitated by reckless haste."

"The tragedy of our day is the climate of fear in which we live, and fear breeds repression. Too often sinister threats to the bill of rights, to freedom of the mind, are concealed under the patriotic cloak, of anti-communism."

"In America any boy may become President, and I suppose it's just one of the risks he takes."