When a man or woman, young, or old, takes a place on the picket line for even a day or two, he will never be the same again.
CESAR CHAVEZThe first principle of non-violent action is that of non-cooperation with everything humiliating.
More Cesar Chavez Quotes
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It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere. But God did not promise us that the world would be humane and just. He gives us the gift of life and allows us to choose the way we will use our limited time on earth. It is an awesome opportunity.
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When you sacrifice, you force others to sacrifice. It’s an extremely powerful weapon.
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Our struggle is not easy. Those who oppose our cause are rich and powerful and they have many allies in high places. We are poor. Our allies are few. But we have something the rich do not own. We have our bodies and spirits and the justice of our cause as our weapons.
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If you are interested in preventing animal suffering, the first thing you should give up is eggs and milk, because the animals who produce those foods lead the most unhappy lives. You would do better to eat meat and stop eating eggs and dairy products.
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I became a vegetarian after realizing that animals feel afraid, cold, hungry and unhappy like we do. I feel very deeply about vegetarianism and the animal kingdom.
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The love for justice that is in us is not only the best part of our being but it is also the most true to our nature.
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When the man who feeds the world by toiling in the fields is himself deprived of the basic rights of feeding, sheltering, and caring for his own family, the whole community of man is sick.
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There are many reasons for why a man does what he does. To be himself he must be able to give it all. If a leader cannot give it all he cannot expect his people to give anything.
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In the no-nonsense school of adversity, which we did not choose for ourselves, we are learning how to operate a labor union.
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Talk is cheap. It is the way we organize and use our lives everyday that tells what we believe in.
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I’m not going to ask for anything unless the workers want it. If they want it, they’ll ask for it.
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When any person suffers for someone in greater need, that person is a human.
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Our language is the reflection of ourselves. A language is an exact reflection of the character and growth of its speakers.
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What I do shows people what kind of person I am.
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We believe that unions have always been about much more than the industries in which they operate. The fight is never about grapes or lettuce, It is always about people.
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When you have people together who believe in something very strongly – whether it’s religion or politics or unions – things happen.
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You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read.
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A symbol is an important thing. That is why we chose an Aztec eagle. It gives pride. When people see it they know it means dignity.
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In the final analysis it doesn’t really matter what the political system is. We don’t need perfect political systems; we need perfect participation.
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Those who are willing to sacrifice and be of service have very little difficulty with people. They know what they are all about. People can’t help but want to be near them. They help them; they work with them. That’s what love is all about. It starts with your heart and radiates out.
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If you give yourself totally to the nonviolence struggle for peace and justice you also find that people give you their hearts and you will never go hungry and never be alone.
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In some cases non-violence requires more militancy than violence.
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The people united will never be defeated.
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Through Gandhi and my own life experience, I have learned about nonviolence. I believe that human life is a very special gift from God, and that no one has a right to take that away in any cause, however just. I am convinced that nonviolence is more powerful than violence.
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The end of all knowledge must be the building up of character.
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Real education should consist of drawing the goodness and the best out of our own students. What better books can there be than the book of humanity?
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