Eleanor Roosevelt - First Activist First Lady




Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was married to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and she was First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945.

She became an influential personality during her husband's years in office.

During Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency , Eleanor dramatically changed the role of the First Lady . Eleanor gave press conferences and with her daily column she kept the public up-to-date on White House policies; in particular the "New Deal".

As a humanitarian and civic leader, Eleanor spoke out for Human Rights, Women's Rights, and Children Issues.

In addition, she also sought to help the country's poor and spoke against racial discrimination.

After her husband's death Eleanor Roosevelt continued to be an important and influential world figure.

As a member of the United Nations' Commission on Human Rights, Eleanor's work on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights would become one of her greatest achievements.



Eleanor Roosevelt Quotes

It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.

******

One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes...

and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.

*******

If someone betrays you once, it’s their fault;

if they betray you twice, it’s your fault.

********

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events;

Small minds discuss people.

*******

A woman is like a tea bag- you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.

*******

Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticized anyway.

You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't

*******

Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being.

With freedom comes responsibility.

For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his own weight, this is a frightening prospect.

*******

If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.

*******

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.

You are able to say to yourself, I have lived through this horror.

I can take the next thing that comes along. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

******

Learn from the mistakes of others.

You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.

******

In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves.

The process never ends until we die.

And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.

******

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

*******

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

******

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

******

Understanding is a two-way street.

*******

You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's.

The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've become yourself.

*******

Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive.

One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.

*******

It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling to do yourself.

*********

Have convictions. Be friendly.

Stick to your beliefs as they stick to theirs. Work as hard as they do.

*******

Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.

******

Sometimes I wonder if we shall ever grow up in our politics and say definite things which mean something,

or whether we shall always go on using generalities to which everyone can subscribe,

and which mean very little.

******




If you would like to learn a little more about Eleanor Roosevelt please visit  PBS.org


Leave Eleanor Roosevelt page and return to Home Page