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Walter Reuther Quotes

1907–1970 United States

Walter Philip Reuther (September 1, 1907 – May 9, 1970) was an American leader of organized labor and civil rights activist who built the United Auto Workers (UAW) into one of the most progressive labor unions in American history. He was the husband of May Reuther, and the brother of Victor G.

United States
Activists

Random Walter Reuther quote

50 quotes

Only in an atmosphere of freedom can the creative genius of the human spirit find full expression.

Address before the Indian Council on World Affairs (1956)

Let us never forget that he who would serve God must prove that he is worthy by serving man.

Closing address at the final convention of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (1955)

We must learn to judge people, not by their color or race or creed, but rather by their worth as human beings.

Address before the Indian Council on World Affairs (1956)

This is our goal—a world of peace, freedom, and social justice for all people everywhere.

Address before the Berlin Freedom Rally (1959)

Free management must realize that in a free society there is no substitute for the voluntary discharge of social responsibility.

Address accepting the Presidency of the CIO (1952)

We have to reassert the sovereignty of people above profits in America.

Opening address of the twelfth constitutional convention of the UAW (1949)

We live in a world in which the common denominator that binds the human family together has been reduced to its simplest fundamental term—human survival.

But in truth, America is the last, best hope of freedom. If we can't make freedom and democracy work in America, then it can't be made to work any place in the world.

Address before the annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (1957)

You cannot save democracy in a vacuum of idealism. You have got to be motivated by idealism, but you have got to also be fighting the hard problem of practical politics.

Statement to the Senate Subcommittee on Privileges and Elections (1956)

There's a direct relationship between the ballot box and the bread box, and what the union fights for and wins at the bargaining table can be taken away in the legislative halls.

Together we shall build a world of peace, freedom, security, social justice, and brotherhood.

Address before the Berlin Freedom Rally (1959)

No man and no people live as an island unto themselves.

Address before the Berlin Freedom Rally (1959)

Freedom is an indivisible value and when the freedom of one is threatened the freedom of all is in jeopardy.

Address before the Berlin Freedom Rally (1959)

Freedom, like peace, can be made secure only as it is made universal.

Address before the Berlin Freedom Rally (1959)

When the employer can divide you and pit white against black, American-born against foreign-born, he can divide and rule and exploit everyone.

Address before the annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (1957)

The struggle against racial intolerance and racial discrimination and bigotry must be waged everywhere in the world wherever such immoral and ugly practices exist.

Address before the Indian Council on World Affairs (1956)

We must negotiate from unity and strength and stay firm on matters of principle and flexible on matters of procedure.

Address before the Berlin Freedom Rally (1959)

Free labor understands and acts in the knowledge the the struggle for peace and the struggle for human freedom are inseparably tied together with the struggle for social justice.

Address before the Indian Council on World Affairs (1956)

Labor is not fighting for a larger slice of the national pie. Labor is fighting for a larger pie.

Democratic nations must seek and find unity in diversity, while Communists achieve unity through conformity.

Address before the Indian Council on World Affairs (1956)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Walter Reuther (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.