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Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny.

— Carl Schurz

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More quotes by Carl Schurz

The animosities inflamed by a four years' war, and its distressing incidents, cannot be easily overcome.

Report on the Condition of the South (1865)

We have come to a point where it is loyalty to resist, and treason to submit.

Our country, right or wrong! When right, to be kept right; when wrong, to be put right!

speech in U.S. Senate (1872)

From the equality of rights springs identity of our highest interests; you cannot subvert your neighbor's rights without striking a dangerous blow at your own.

The Senator from Wisconsin cannot frighten me by exclaiming, "My country, right or wrong." In one sense I say so too. My country; and my country is the great American Republic. My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.

All Carl Schurz quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Carl Schurz (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.