Quotes from A People's History of the United States

These are quotes spoken or written by other people, which Zinn quotes in his book. There are some famous ones in here, and some obscure ones. The last two were written directly by Prof. Zinn. I think that they are all inspiring, insightful, thoughtful messages.

So, Son, instead of crying, be strong, so as to be able to comfort your mother. . .take her for a long walk in the quiet country, gathering wild flowers here and there. . .But remember always, Dante, in the play of happiness, don't you use all for yourself only. . .help the persecuted and the victim because they are your better friends. . .In this struggle of life you will find more and love and you will be loved.
-- Nicola Sacco, before his wrongful execution, to his son Dante.

Rise like lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number!
Shake your chains to earth, like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you --
Ye are many, they are few!
-- Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Mask of Anarchy"

Rise, Brothers! Come let us possess this land. . .Be discontened. Be dissatisfied. . .Be as restless as the temptuous billows on the boundless sea. Let your discontent break mountain-high against the wall of prejudice and swamp it to the very foundation.
-- John Hope

If you will unite, we may have here within five years a socialistic republic. . .Then will a lovely morning break over this darkened land.
-- Tomplins Square meeting, 1877

I have seen you, Judge Sloane, and others of your kind, send them to prison because they dared to infringe upon the sacred rights of property. You have become blind and deaf to the rights of man to pursue life and happiness, and you have crushed those rights so that the sacred right of property shall be preserved. Then you tell me to respect your laws. I do not. I did violate your laws. . .and still come before you and say, "To hell with the courts, I know what justice is."
-- Jack White

Your honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.
-- Eugene Debs

If we are arrested every day, if we are exploited every day, if we are trampled over every day, don't ever let anyone pull you so low as to hate them. We must use the weapon of love. We must have compassion and understanding for those who hate us. We must realize so many people are taught to hate us that they are not totally responsible for their hate. But we stand in life at midnight, we are always on the threshold of a new dawn.
-- Martin Luther King, 1956

We are a proud people! We are Indians! We have observed and rejected much of what so-called civilization offers. We are Indians! We will preserve our traditions and ways of life by educating our children. We are Indians! We will join hands in a unity never before put into practice. We are Indians! Our Earth Mother awaits our voices.
-- Alcatraz Indian Proclamation, 1970

The wealth of the nation, doled out carefully where children need free milk, is drained for billion-dollar aircraft carriers. . . The fear and anger of the majority [turned] toward a class of criminals bred - by economic inequality - faster than they can be put away, deflecting attention away from the huge theft of natural resources carried out within the law by men in executive offices.
-- Howard Zinn, A People's History of the U.S.

Let us be utopian for a moment so that when we get realistic again it is not that "realism" so useful to the Establishment in discouraging action.
-- Howard Zinn, A People's History of the U.S.