Customs, traditions, laws should be flexible, within good reason, if that is what it takes to make our democracy work. John Lewis More Quotes by John Lewis More Quotes From John Lewis If you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it. John Lewis fairs obligation moral You cannot be afraid to speak up and speak out for what you believe. You have to have courage, raw courage. John Lewis speaks-out speak believe Our struggle is a struggle to redeem the soul of America. It's not a struggle that lasts for a few days, a few weeks, a few months, or a few years. It is the struggle of a lifetime, more than one lifetime. John Lewis struggle america years Young people can understand, and must understand, that we had success, we had failures, but we never gave up. We never gave in. We never became bitter. We didn't hate. We continued to press on. And that's what we're saying: There are some ups, there are some downs, and when you're not down, you must have the capacity and the ability to get up and keep going. John Lewis bitter hate people I met Rosa Parks when I was 17. I met Dr. [Martin Luther] King when I was 18. These two individuals inspired me to find a way to get in the way, to get in trouble. So I got in good trouble, necessary trouble. John Lewis drs kings two We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us. John Lewis chosen may It is my hope that people today will see that, in another time, in another period, when we saw the need for people to speak up, to organize, to mobilize, and to do something about injustice, we came together. John Lewis together people needs I thought I was going to die a few times. On the Freedom Ride in the year 1961, when I was beaten at the Greyhound bus station in Montgomery, I thought I was going to die. On March 7th, 1965, when I was hit in the head with a night stick by a State Trooper at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, I thought I was going to die. I thought I saw death, but nothing can make me question the philosophy of nonviolence. John Lewis bridges philosophy night When people tell me nothing has changed, I say come walk in my shoes and I will show you change. John Lewis shoes change people We have come a long way in America because of Martin Luther King, Jr. He led a disciplined, nonviolent revolution under the rule of law, a revolution of values, a revolution of ideas. We've come a long way, but we still have a distance to go before all of our citizens embrace the idea of a truly interracial democracy, what I like to call the Beloved Community, a nation at peace with itself. John Lewis beloved-community distance kings I say from time to time that the vote is precious. It's almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument that we have in a democratic society. And we must use it. John Lewis powerful tools use If you're not hopeful and optimistic, then you just give up. You have to take that long hard look and just believe that if your consistent, you will succeed John Lewis optimistic giving-up believe We built a coalition of conscience, and that we can do it again, and we can go forward, and help redeem the soul of America. John Lewis soul helping america You cannot give up - you have to be persistent and keep pushing, and press on. John Lewis persistent pushing giving-up Don`t give up! Don`t give in! Keep the faith! And keep your eyes on the prize! John Lewis dont-give-up giving-up eye We never gave up. We didn't get lost in a sea of despair. We kept the faith. We kept pushing and pulling. We kept marching. And we made some progress. John Lewis despair progress sea Even in the civil rights movement, there were so many unbelievable women. They never, ever received the credit that they should have received. They did all of the, and I cannot say it, they did all of the dirty work. Hard work. John Lewis hard-work should-have dirty In spite of all of the things, the issues, that we may be confronting today, I'm very hopeful, very optimistic about the future. John Lewis hopeful issues optimistic I truly believe that one day we will get there, we will arrive. And if we do it right in America, maybe, just maybe, we can serve as a model for the rest of the world. John Lewis one-day believe america We will stand up for what is right, for what is fair and what is just. Health care is a right and not a privilege. John Lewis health-care privilege care
