American lawyer, orator & politician (1860-1925)
The humblest citizen of all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
speech at Democratic National Convention, 1896
The poor man who takes property by force is called a thief, but the creditor who can by legislation make a debtor pay a dollar twice as large as he borrowed is lauded as the friend of a sound currency. The man who wants the people to destroy the Government is an anarchist, but the man who wants the Government to destroy the people is a patriot.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
Principal Speech Against Unconditional Repeal, 16 August 1893
Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
speech at Chicago Convention, July 8, 1896
An education is incomplete which does not place a noble purpose behind mental training and make the hands willing to work.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
commencement speech at Nebraska State University, 15 June, 1905
A good government doubles every joy and a bad government multiplies every sorrow.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
speech delivered at a bar association banquet in Lincoln, Nebraska, February 1890
No government can long endure unless its citizens are willing to make some sacrifice for its existence.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
speech delivered at a bar association banquet in Lincoln, Nebraska, February 1890
There is no place for the drone in human society, and as public opinion becomes more enlightened we shall give less regard to those, however refined or well educated, who consult their own pleasure at the expense of others and more consideration to the bread-winners whose hands are calloused and whose brows are acquainted with perspiration.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
commencement speech at Nebraska State University, 15 June, 1905
One needs the inner strength which comes with the conscious presence of a personal God. If those who are thus fortified sometimes yield to temptation, how helpless and hopeless must those be who rely upon their own strength alone!
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
lecture delivered at many Chautauquas and religious gatherings, 1904
If ... a man measures life by what others do for him, he is apt to be disappointed, but if he measures life by what he does for others, there is no time for despair.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
lecture delivered at numerous College gatherings, 1901
Morality is the power of endurance in man; and a religion which teaches personal responsibility to God gives strength to morality. There is a powerful restraining influence in the belief that an all-seeing eye scrutinizes every thought and word and act of the individual.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
lecture delivered at many Chautauquas and religious gatherings, 1904
Appearance too often takes the place of reality -- the stamp of the coin is there, and the glitter of the gold, but, after all, it is but a worthless wash. Sham is carried into every department of life, and we are being corrupted by show and surface. We are too apt to judge people by what they have, rather than by what they are; we have too few Hamlets who are bold enough to proclaim, "I know not seem!"
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
Illinois College Graduating Oration, 1881
Shall the lover of his country measure his loyalty only by his service as a soldier? No! Patriotism calls for the faithful and conscientious performance of all of the duties of citizenship, in small matters as well as great, at home as well as upon the tented field.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
speech delivered at a bar association banquet in Lincoln, Nebraska, February 1890
And immortality! Who will estimate the peace which a belief in a future life has brought to the sorrowing hearts of the sons of men?
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
lecture delivered at many Chautauquas and religious gatherings, 1904
Science is a magnificent force, but it is not a teacher of morals. It can perfect machinery, but it adds no moral restraints to protect society from the misuse of the machine. It can also build gigantic intellectual ships, but it constructs no moral rudders for the control of storm tossed human vessel. It not only fails to supply the spiritual element needed but some of its unproven hypotheses rob the ship of its compass and thus endangers its cargo.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
undelivered summation of the Scopes 'Monkey' Trial in Dayton, Tennessee, 1925
To every created thing God has given a tongue that proclaims a future life.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
lecture delivered at many Chautauquas and religious gatherings, 1904
Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
speech delivered at the Virginia Democratic Association in Washington, D.C., 22 February 1899
But if each day we gather some new truths, plant ourselves more firmly upon principles which are eternal, guard every thought and action, that it may be pure, and conform our lives more nearly to that Perfect Model, we shall form a character that will be a fit background on which to paint the noblest deeds and the grandest intellectual and moral achievements; a character that cannot be concealed, but which will bring success in this life and form the best preparation for that which is beyond.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
Illinois College Graduating Oration, 1881
You cannot judge a man's life by the success of a moment, by the victory of an hour, or even by the results of a year. You must view his life as a whole. You must stand where you can see the man as he treads the entire path that leads from the cradle to the grave -- now crossing the plain, now climbing the steeps, now passing through pleasant fields, now wending his way with difficulty between rugged rocks -- tempted, tried, tested, triumphant.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
"The Law and the Gospel"
How lonely life is when one prefers money to morals.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
lecture delivered at many Chautauquas and religious gatherings, 1904
If civilization can be defined--and I know of no better definition--as the harmonious development of the human race, physically, mentally and morally, then each individual, whether his influence is perceptible or not, raises the level of the civilization of his age just in proportion as he contributes to the world's work a body, a mind and a heart capable of maximum effort. No one lives unto himself or dies unto himself. The tie that binds each human being to every other human being is one that cannot be severed.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
commencement speech at Nebraska State University, 15 June, 1905