“It is from the exercise of this right that the guarantee of all our other rights flows. Unless the right to vote be secure and undenied, all other rights are insecure and subject to denial for all our citizens. The challenge to this right is a challenge to America itself. We must meet this challenge as decisively as we would meet a challenge mounted against our land from enemies abroad.”
1960s, Special message to Congress on the right to vote (1965)
Context: In our system, the first right and most vital of all our fights is the right to vote. Jefferson described the elective franchise as "the ark of our safety." It is from the exercise of this right that the guarantee of all our other rights flows. Unless the right to vote be secure and undenied, all other rights are insecure and subject to denial for all our citizens. The challenge to this right is a challenge to America itself. We must meet this challenge as decisively as we would meet a challenge mounted against our land from enemies abroad.
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Lyndon B. Johnson 153
American politician, 36th president of the United States (i… 1908–1973Related quotes
State of the Union Address http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/New/html/19990119-2656.html (January 19, 1999)
1990s
Source: Marvi Sirmed https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/3270/where-did-the-blasphemy-law-come-from/
Quotations from Gurudev’s teachings, Chinmya Mission Chicago
Nicholas Sparks, Epilogue, p. 355
2000s, Three Weeks with My Brother (2004)
As quoted in "#RedefineAtoZ: Lana Condor, actress on the rise, sees growth in challenges" in NBC Asian America (1 May 2018) https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/atoz/redefineatoz-lana-condor-actress-rise-sees-growth-challenges-n867281
Nobel Peace Prize acceptance (1985)
“It is in high challenges that high truths have the right of appearing”
Part 1.3 Rights of Man
1790s, Rights of Man, Part I (1791)
Context: To possess ourselves of a clear idea of what government is, or ought to be, we must trace it to its origin. In doing this we shall easily discover that governments must have arisen either out of the people or over the people. Mr. Burke has made no distinction. He investigates nothing to its source, and therefore he confounds everything; but he has signified his intention of undertaking, at some future opportunity, a comparison between the constitution of England and France. As he thus renders it a subject of controversy by throwing the gauntlet, I take him upon his own ground. It is in high challenges that high truths have the right of appearing; and I accept it with the more readiness because it affords me, at the same time, an opportunity of pursuing the subject with respect to governments arising out of society.
2014, Address to European Youth (March 2014)
Context: In the end, the success of our ideals comes down to us -- including the example of our own lives, our own societies. We know that there will always be intolerance. But instead of fearing the immigrant, we can welcome him. We can insist on policies that benefit the many, not just the few; that an age of globalization and dizzying change opens the door of opportunity to the marginalized, and not just a privileged few. Instead of targeting our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, we can use our laws to protect their rights. Instead of defining ourselves in opposition to others, we can affirm the aspirations that we hold in common. That’s what will make America strong. That’s what will make Europe strong. That’s what makes us who we are. And just as we meet our responsibilities as individuals, we must be prepared to meet them as nations. Because we live in a world in which our ideals are going to be challenged again and again by forces that would drag us back into conflict or corruption. We can’t count on others to rise to meet those tests.