Forum Post: Woodrow Wilson (1856 - 1924) quotations
Posted 12 years ago on Jan. 28, 2012, 4:59 p.m. EST by Underdog
(2971)
from Clermont, FL
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Here are some quotes from our 28th President, the only president with a Ph.D. Some of them are very inspiring to those seeking change.
These are off of BrainyQuotes.
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"The government, which was designed for the people, has got into the hands of the bosses and their employers, the special interests. An invisible empire has been set up above the forms of democracy."
"If you want to make enemies, try to change something."
"I have long enjoyed the friendship and companionship of Republicans because I am by instinct a teacher, and I would like to teach them something."
"I will not speak with disrespect of the Republican Party. I always speak with respect of the past."
"If there are men in this country big enough to own the government of the United States, they are going to own it."
"Sometimes people call me an idealist. Well, that is the way I know I am an American. America is the only idealistic nation in the world."
"The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation."
"The history of liberty is a history of resistance."
"The seed of revolution is repression. "
"The only use of an obstacle is to be overcome. All that an obstacle does with brave men is, not to frighten them, but to challenge them."
"Liberty has never come from Government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it."
"I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than win in a cause that will some day lose."
"Absolute identity with one's cause is the first and great condition of successful leadership."
"America is not anything if it consists of each of us. It is something only if it consists of all of us."
"America was established not to create wealth but to realize a vision, to realize an ideal - to discover and maintain liberty among men."
"Democracy is not so much a form of government as a set of principles."
"Generally young men are regarded as radicals. This is a popular misconception. The most conservative persons I ever met are college undergraduates. The radicals are the men past middle life."
"He is not a true man of the world who knows only the present fashions of it."
"I would rather belong to a poor nation that was free than to a rich nation that had ceased to be in love with liberty."
"Interest does not tie nations together; it sometimes separates them. But sympathy and understanding does unite them."
"Neutrality is a negative word. It does not express what America ought to feel. We are not trying to keep out of trouble; we are trying to preserve the foundations on which peace may be rebuilt."
"One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty counsels. The thing to do is to supply light and not heat."
"Property as compared with humanity, as compared with the red blood in the American people, must take second place, not first place."
"There can be no equality or opportunity if men and women and children be not shielded in their lives from the consequences of great industrial and social processes which they cannot alter, control, or singly cope with."
"There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed."
"You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand."
TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE RESPONDED NEGATIVELY ATTACKING THE MAN INSTEAD OF THE QUOTES.
If you did not know who uttered the words, and looked at the words themselves, what would you then think? I agree that his decisions and actions as President can be debated, but I don't care who he was -man or intelligent chimpanzee - its the words, especially the inspiring ones, that I believed had value. That is why I posted them to provide inspiration to those struggling within the OWS movement.
The words are brilliant. They are so brilliant that they are not words only -
I haven't studied Wilson's Presidency, his policies, or the geopolitics of the time. But I will say that I find it hard to believe that someone who holds such principles would act against them to the harm of the nation.
I note there has been a great deal of repelican spin regarding the Presidency of FDR. repelicans hate him - and cannot acknowledge what a great President he was - and they cannot do so precisely because of the overwhelming urge to privatize social security and thus place that pot of gold up for grabs on the gambling table we call wall street.
repelicans are liars.
they are insane.
I expect Wilson was a brilliant leader, one vastly underrated today - and I base that assumption primarily on the fact that he is so reviled by the righties - who are so consistently wrong that I am confident beyond measure -
Thanks for your support. I don't know a great deal about Wilson either, except that he was leading during difficult times. The one thing I don't like is that the Fed came into its existence under his watch (1913). I am not a big fan of the Fed. I think their policies have led to a devalued inflationed currency. I can personally remember when a first-class stamp was 5 cents and gas was 25 cents a gallon. I was a small kid then, but I remember.
Based on your FDR input above have you seen FDRs recorded address made shortly before his death regarding an Economic Bill of Rights? If not, might I suggest you check it out on YouTube. It isn't very long, and lays out in principle what I think people should be fighting for long-term.
I diverged a bit, but thank you again for your input.
I haven't seen FDRs address, no. Sounds interesting.
The Fed, as I understand it, has two parts, one a public institution, that serves 12 private federal reserve banks.
I think we should end privatization of the entire savings and lending sector of our economy.
Here is a link to the video. 1 min 35 sec.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=effDfpKYcVo&feature=youtube_gdata_player
And here is one that talks about the Fed and Fractional Reserve Banking. 9 min 50 sec.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm3DixfL9o0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
You would like this article:
TIME FOR AN ECONOMIC BILL OF RIGHTS Ellen Brown November 9, 2011 www.webofdebt.com/articles/rights.php
I just read your link. Thank you. I particularly like this idea about how Congress could by-pass the Fed and other private banks RIGHT NOW without any changes to law at all. Hmmm...wonder why they don't?
From the link...
"Congress could go further: it could reclaim the power to issue money from the banks and fund its budget directly. It could do this, in fact, without changing any laws. Congress is empowered to “coin money,” and the Constitution sets no limit on the face amount of the coins. Congress could issue a few one-trillion dollar coins, deposit them in an account, and start writing checks."
Thanks. I'll try to check it out.
so Orwellian . . .
How so?
Profound thoughts expressed eloquently.
"This Act (the Federal Reserve Act, Dec. 23rd 1913) establishes the most gigantic trust on earth. When the President (Woodrow Wilson) signs the Bill, the invisible government of the Monetary Power will be legalised... The worst legislative crime of the ages is perpetrated by this banking and currency Bill." - Charles A. Lindbergh Sr.
"Whoever controls the volume of money in any country is absolute master of all industry and commerce." -- James A. Garfield, President of the United States
Less than four months after his inauguration, President Garfield arrived at the Washington railroad depot on July 2, 1881, to catch a train for a summer's retreat on the New Jersey seashore. As Garfield made his way through the station, Charles Guiteau raced from the shadows and fired two shots point blank into the president.
Actions speak louder than words !
The Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Income Tax were fraudulently passed and signed as if they were lawful during his administration. He also advocated the end of "isolation" and promoted "free trade."
As stated elsewhere in this post, I am not a fan of the Fed, and everyone knows that the IRS is in serious need of reform due to unfair tax laws that favor the wealthy class. Over the years, tax reform discussions have put forth a number of alternatives including proposals for a Progressive/Flat tax, Federal sales tax, etc. that have, unfortunately, failed to come to fruition. This is most likely due to those who have an interest in preserving the status quo.
I'm afraid that we will part company on the actions/words point. The words were meant to inspire the movement, regardless of who uttered them. I don't know your political background, but if you happen to be on the Right, would you feel differently if they had been uttered by Reagan?
From the testimony of Marriner Eccles, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, before the House Banking and Currency Committee, Sept. 30, 1941:
Congressman Patman: "Mr. Eccles, how did you get the money to buy those two billions of government securities?"
Eccles: "We created it."
Patman: "Out of what?"
Eccles: "Out of the right to issue credit money." (i.e.Out of the right to create it. Do you see the insanity of it all? You and I must work hard for every dollar of ?? that we earn, while the banksters have the legal right to create money!
The consequences of Woodrow Wilson's administration should be exposed . . .
As President John Adams said, "All the perplexities, confusion and distress (Ed. note - crime, poverty, substance abuse, family disintegration, government immorality and dishonesty, etc.) in America arise, not from defects in the Constitution or confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation." This is because nearly every part of our lives revolves around money in some way. If we clear up the money problem, all sorts of seemingly unrelated problems will simply vanish!
Left vs. Right - two wings - same bird - same s##
You and I are in perfect alignment on the evils of money creation by the Fed and banks within its system, as this video shows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm3DixfL9o0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Are you saying that Wilson is to blame for the creation of the Fed? I will have to do a little research, but there may have been forces at work far beyond any one man -- even the Prez. The creation of the Fed, in principle (pardon the pun), was backed by powerful international banking interests who desired greater control over the vast wealth of the US at that time. The US was emerging on the world stage as an economic powerhouse. Those international bankers found all that wealth irresistible and sought a mechanism to get their hands on it. And they succeeded. Is Wilson to blame for that? Maybe I am missing your point here. We seem to be close to agreement, yet, at the same time not.
Excellent link "Modern Money Mechanics" I found a free download and also bought a copy from Amazon. Funny the download was better because the hardcopy font was too small.
He signed it on December 23,1913 in the early hours of the morning after Congress completed it. He was likely blackmailed into his role as a presidential candidate for that very purpose. He probably had a nervous breakdown as well.
International bankers undoubtedly are responsible for the Federal Reseve Act. Recollections of several participants of the secret meeting on Jeckyll Island have been reported in Saturday Evening Post and in at least 2 books. The bill was written by a banker from Germany who was appointed as the first Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
I've read 3 books and would highly recommend them.
The Creature from Jeckyll Island by G. Edward Griffin
Web of Debt by Ellen Brown J.D.
Secrets of the Federal Reserve by Eustis Mullins
Good. I think we have aligned here, unless you have any other objections to my previous comments on this post.
Well, I despise Woodrow Wilson and can barely stand to read anything attributed to him. So many have given their last breath for our nation but Wilson was likely bribed into his treachery. Rather than face controversy and possibly loose his position as President of an Ivy League University he betrayed our nation to cover an extramarital affair.
On June 4, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed Executive Order No. 11110 [see transcript] that returned to the U.S. government the power to issue currency, without going through the Federal Reserve (US Central Bank). Mr. Kennedy's order gave the Treasury the power "to issue silver certificates against any silver bullion, silver, or standard silver dollars in the Treasury." This meant that for every ounce of silver in the U.S. Treasury's vault, the government could introduce new money into circulation.
As a result, more than $4 billion in United States Notes were brought into circulation in $2 and $5 denominations [See photo below]. $10 and $20 United States Notes were never circulated but were being printed by the Treasury Department when Kennedy was assassinated only six months later.
http://thecounterpunch.hubpages.com/hub/Kennedy_Executive_Order_11110
This was enough money to satisfy the currency requirements of our nation.
I just finished reading "JFK and the Unspeakable." That man was a hero and the book proves with government documents that our own government was involved in the assassination, specifically sectors of the CIA and possibly the FBI.
Hmmm...I won't try to change your views on Wilson because, for all I know, they may be perfectly correct. As I said, I don't really know a lot about the the man or his history...but I sure like his quotes.
The quotes are great . . .
That man was one of the worst residents this country ever had. His handling of the First World War is proof of that.
This mans doctorate degree was meaningless. He was the worst president, even worse than Jimmy Carter.
you're correct, yes he was.
He certainly was a horrid President. The Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Income Tax were fraudulently passed and signed as if they were lawful during his administration. He also advocated the end of "isolation" and promoted "free trade."
The United States made itself great by its own manufacturing ability. We had our people fully employed. Our people could buy ALL the products that we made. We did not need global trade. If people wanted the privilege of selling products on our markets they had to pay customs tariffs.
Untill 1913 all of the money required to run the United States came from customs tariffs. And, in 1913 we had a surplus of five billion dollars after all our bills were paid.
Now, comes socialist, Woodrow Wilson, and the first thing he does is call for a joint session of Congress to stop isolation. Isolation is a smear word, intended to deceive you.
We do not need global trade. We need full employment. We need our people back in full paying jobs. The middle class is being destroyed. We need our industries revitalized. We have become the dumping ground for the worlds products and that has put our people out of jobs, and reduced our standard of living. The objective is that one day we shall be no better than a third world country as far as our standard of living.
In 1950, only 4% of shoes sold in America were imported. Every President that came along since then has knocked down the tariffs against imported shoes. Today China, Taiwan, Malaysia produce 84% of shoes sold in America. Which means a total unemployment in the shoe industry of this country of more than 250,000 people. Isn’t that a scandal and a disgrace, that we open our doors and allow these people who we subsidize with foreign aid to come back and dump their products and put our people out of work?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCzR7NCeMYA