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A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few.

John Lewis

Voting is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument that we have in a democratic society. And we must use it.
JOHN LEWIS

Democracy Instrument Non Violence Powerful Society Tool Vote
You cannot give up – you have to be persistent and keep pushing, and press on.
JOHN LEWIS

Give Up Motivational Persistence Press Push
If you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it.
JOHN LEWIS

Justice Moral Obligation Right
Too many of us still believe our differences define us.
JOHN LEWIS

Believe Black Lives Matter Difference
Young people can understand, and must understand, that we had success, we had failures, but we never gave up.
JOHN LEWIS

Failure Give Up Motivational People Success Understand Young
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

Arrive Believe Country Model Right True World
Every generation leaves behind a legacy. What that legacy will be is determined by the people of that generation. What legacy do you want to leave behind?
JOHN LEWIS

Determination Generation Inspirational Leaving Legacy People
I think my whole life has been one of sort of daring, and sort of sailing against the wind instead of just going with the wind.
JOHN LEWIS

Against Dare Life Sail Thinking Wind
Following the teaching of Gandhi and Thoreau, Dr. King, it set me on a path. And I never looked back.
JOHN LEWIS

Path Teaching
The reward for playing jazz is playing jazz.
JOHN LEWIS

Music Play Reward
I say to people today, ‘You must be prepared if you believe in something. If you believe in something, you have to go for it. As individuals, we may not live to see the end.
JOHN LEWIS

Believe Individual Live People Preparation
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

Individual Trouble
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

Civil Credit Dirty Movement Receive Rights Unbelievable Women Work Hard
Without our faith, we wouldn’t have been able to succeed.
JOHN LEWIS

Faith Inspirational Success
Too many people struggled, suffered, and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote.
JOHN LEWIS

Country Exercise Possible Struggle Suffering Vote
When growing up, I saw segregation. I saw racial discrimination. I saw those signs that said white men, colored men. White women, colored women. White waiting. And I didn’t like it.
JOHN LEWIS

Black Gorw Up Men Racism Sign White Women

A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few.

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A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few.

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