black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

In spite of all of the things, the issues, that we may be confronting today, I’m very hopeful, very optimistic about the future.

John Lewis

We are one community, one family. Really, we are the American family.
JOHN LEWIS

Community Country Family Unity
You have to be optimistic just in keeping with the philosophy of non-violence.
JOHN LEWIS

Non Violence Optimism Philosophy
Too many of us still believe our differences define us.
JOHN LEWIS

Believe Black Lives Matter Difference
When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.
JOHN LEWIS

Equality Justice Truth
I would say to a young person: continue to study. Study what is taking place in your community, in your neighborhood, maybe at your school.
JOHN LEWIS

Community Neighbour Place School Study Young
Following the teaching of Gandhi and Thoreau, Dr. King, it set me on a path. And I never looked back.
JOHN LEWIS

Path Teaching
You must be bold, brave, and courageous and find a way to get in the way.
JOHN LEWIS

Bold Brave Courage Finding Justice
Without prayer, without faith in the Almighty, the civil rights movement would have been like a bird without wings.
JOHN LEWIS

Bird Civil Faith Movement Prayer Rights Wings
Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime.
JOHN LEWIS

Lifetime Struggle
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
When you make mistakes, when you’re wrong, you should admit you’re wrong and ask people to forgive you.
JOHN LEWIS

Admit Forgiveness Mistake People Wrong
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
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
To divide people based on race, a color, a religion, a sexual orientation, it’s just wrong.
JOHN LEWIS

Black Lives Matter Colour Divide Orientation People Race Religion Wrong
You have to tell the whole truth, the good and the bad, maybe some things that are uncomfortable for some people.
JOHN LEWIS

Justice People Truth Uncomfortable
If you’re not hopeful and optimistic, then you just give up. You have to take that long hard look and just believe that if your consistent, you will succeed.
JOHN LEWIS

Believe Consistence Give Up Hope Optimism Success
We built a coalition of conscience, and that we can do it again, and we can go forward, and help redeem the soul of America.
JOHN LEWIS

Build Conscience Country Soul
We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us.
JOHN LEWIS

Choose Inspirational Time
People must understand that people were beaten, arrested, jailed, and some people were murdered, while attempting to register to vote, or to get others to register to vote.
JOHN LEWIS

Arrest Attempt Murder People Register Undersstand Vote
Don’t give up! Don’t give in! Keep the faith! And keep your eyes on the prize!
JOHN LEWIS

Business Faith Give Up Motivational Sports
When people tell me nothing has changed, I say come walk in my shoes and I will show you change.
JOHN LEWIS

Change People Shoes Show Struggle Walk
We will stand up for what is right, for what is fair and what is just. Health care is a right and not a privilege.
JOHN LEWIS

Care Health Privilege Right Stand
Give us a vote! Let us vote! We came here to do our job. We came here to work.
JOHN LEWIS

Job Racism Vote Work
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
Sometimes I feel like crying, tears of happiness, tears of joy, to see the distance we’ve come and the progress we’ve made.
JOHN LEWIS

Cry Distance Emotional Feeling Happiness Progress
Never lose your hope, be optimistic.
JOHN LEWIS

Hope Lose One Liner Optimism
Rioting is not a movement. It is not an act of civil disobedience.
JOHN LEWIS

Act Civil Movement Obey Riot

In spite of all of the things, the issues, that we may be confronting today, I’m very hopeful, very optimistic about the future.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

In spite of all of the things, the issues, that we may be confronting today, I’m very hopeful, very optimistic about the future.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More John Lewis Quotes