Paul Wellstone

“The only way to change is to vote. People are responsible.”

“Sometimes, the only realists are the dreamers.”

“Our politics are our deepest form of expression: they mirror our past experiences and reflect our dreams and aspirations for the future.”

“Education and democracy have the same goal: the fullest possible development of human capabilities.”

“What makes community organizing especially attractive is the faith it places in the ability of the poor to make decisions for themselves.”

“I think the future also will not belong to those who are cynical or those who stand on the sidelines.”

“The future will belong to those who have passion and are willing to work hard to make our country better.”

“When too many Americans don't vote or participate, some see apathy and despair. I see disappointment and even outrage. And I believe that out of this frustration can come hope and action.”

“Politics is not predictions and politics is not observations. Politics is what we do. Politics is what we do, politics is what we create, by what we work for, by what we hope for and what we dare to imagine.”

“I emphasize self-esteem, self-confidence, and dignity, not as an ideal, but as a real test of community organization. Without leadership development, community organizations do not have staying power.”

“I saw as a teacher how, if you take that spark of learning that those children have, and you ignite it, you can take a child from any background to a lifetime of creativity and accomplishment.”

“Politics isn't about big money or power games it's about the improvement of people's lives.”

“The people of this country, not special interest big money, should be the source of all political power.”

“Politics is about the improvement of people's lives. It's about advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and the world. Politics is about doing well for the people.”

“I don't think politics has anything to do with left, right, or center. It has to do with trying to do right by people.”

“A politics that is not sensitive to the concerns and circumstances of people's lives, a politics that does not speak to and include people, is an intellectually arrogant politics that deserves to fail.”

“There are three critical ingredients to democratic renewal and progressive change in America: good public policy, grassroots organizing and electoral politics.”

“It is the belief that extremes and excesses of inequality must be reduced so that each person is free to fully develop his or her full potential. This is why we take precious time out of our lives and give it to politics.”

“Politics is not about money.”

“Politics is not about power.”

“Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning.”

“We can and must move U.S. politics forward by means of committed participation.”

“The American polity is infected with a serious imbalance of power between elites and masses, a power which is the principal threat to our democracy.”

“The first task in teaching is to bring to consciousness what the students already believe by virtue of their personal experiences about themselves and society.”