Quotes about welcome
page 7

Jair Bolsonaro photo
Mahatma Gandhi photo
Charles Webster Leadbeater photo
Michael Moorcock photo
Han Zheng photo
Frederick Douglass photo

“If we would reach a degree of civilization higher and grander than any yet attained, we should welcome to our ample continent all the nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples, and as fast as they learn our language and comprehend the duties of citizenship, we should incorporate them into the American body politic. The outspread wings of the American eagle are broad enough to shelter all who are likely to come.”

Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman

As a matter of selfish policy, leaving right and humanity out of the question, we cannot wisely pursue any other course. Other governments mainly depend for security upon the sword; ours depends mainly upon the friendship of the people. In all matters, in time of peace, in time of war, and at all times, it makes its appeal to the people, and to all classes of the people. Its strength lies in their friendship and cheerful support in every time of need, and that policy is a mad one which would reduce the number of its friends by excluding those who would come, or by alienating those who are already here.
1860s, Our Composite Nationality (1869)

Frederick Douglass photo
Frederick Douglass photo

“And here I hold that a liberal and brotherly welcome to all who are likely to come to the United States is the only wise policy which this nation can adopt. It has been thoughtfully observed that every nation, owing to its peculiar character and composition, has a definite mission in the world. What that mission is, and what policy is best adapted to assist in its fulfillment, is the business of its people and its statesmen to know, and knowing, to make a noble use of this knowledge. I need not stop here to name or describe the missions of other or more ancient nationalities. Our seems plain and unmistakable. Our geographical position, our relation to the outside world, our fundamental principles of government, world-embracing in their scope and character, our vast resources, requiring all manner of labor to develop them, and our already existing composite population, all conspire to one grand end, and that is, to make us the perfect national illustration of the unity and dignity of the human family that the world has ever seen. In whatever else other nations may have been great and grand, our greatness and grandeur will be found in the faithful application of the principle of perfect civil equality to the people of all races and of all creeds.”

Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman

We are not only bound to this position by our organic structure and by our revolutionary antecedents, but by the genius of our people. Gathered here from all quarters of the globe, by a common aspiration for national liberty as against caste, divine right govern and privileged classes, it would be unwise to be found fighting against ourselves and among ourselves, it would be unadvised to attempt to set up any one race above another, or one religion above another, or prescribe any on account of race, color or creed.
1860s, Our Composite Nationality (1869)

Yuri Gagarin photo

“If all those people are getting wet to welcome me, surely the least I can do is get wet too!”

Yuri Gagarin (1934–1968) Soviet pilot and cosmonaut, the first human in space

Asking for the roof of his car to be put back despite the pouring rain, during his visit to Manchester (12 July 1961), as quoted in "Yuri Gagarin: Mankind's first giant leap" in The Economist (3 August 2011) http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2011/08/yuri-gagarin?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/bl/mankindsfirstgiantleap

C. L. R. James photo
Vasyl Slipak photo
Jeremy Corbyn photo
David Cameron photo

“Turkey is a secular and democratic state. This is all the more reason to make Turkey feel welcome in Europe… This is something I feel very strongly and very passionately about. Together I want us to pave the road from Ankara to Brussels.”

David Cameron (1966) Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

"Turkey must be welcome in EU, insists Cameron" http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkey-must-be-welcome-in-eu-insists-cameron-2036190.html, The Independent, (27th July 2010)
2010s, A speech about Turkey's EU membership process

Baruch Spinoza photo

“Indeed, I scarcely comprehend how one can be a poet without revering and loving Spinoza and becoming completely his. Your own fantasy is rich enough for the invention of the particular: nothing is better suited to entice your fantasy, to stimulate and nourish it, than the poetic creations of other artists. But in Spinoza you find the beginning and the end of all fantasy, the universal ground on which your particularity rests — and you should welcome precisely this separation of that which is originary and eternal in fantasy from everything particular and specific.”

Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677) Dutch philosopher

Original in German: In der Tat, ich begreife kaum, wie man ein Dichter sein kann, ohne den Spinosa zu verehren, zu lieben und ganz der seinige zu werden. In Erfindung des Einzelnen ist Eure eigne Fantasie reich genug; sie anzuregen, zur Tätigkeit zu reizen und ihr Nahrung zu geben, nichts geschickter als die Dichtungen andrer Künstler. Im Spinosa aber findet Ihr den Anfang und das Ende aller Fantasie, den allgemeinen Grund und Boden, auf dem Euer Einzelnes ruht und eben diese Absonderung des Ursprünglichen, Ewigen der Fantasie von allem Einzelnen und Besondern muß Euch sehr willkommen sein.
Friedrich Schlegel, Rede über die Mythologie, in Friedrich Schlegels Gespräch über die Poesie (1800)
S - Z

Thiago Silva photo

“Welcome to PSG, Thiago Silva, the best defender in the world.”

Thiago Silva (1984) Brazilian footballer

Nasser Al-Khelaifi (PSG), 2012 https://twitter.com/sports_fr/status/239018615934943232
From coaches and club directors

Rukmini Devi Arundale photo
Dominicus Corea photo

“From the beginning…you (the ALA) have welcomed and supported me. Tonight you have gone one step further—you have adopted me.”

Henriette Avram (1919–2006) American computer programmer and system analyst. She developed the MARC formatting used in libraries

She later explained, “It was at that moment, and ever after, that I regarded myself as a librarian.
At the acceptance of the Margaret Mann Citation
Source: MARC her Words: An Interview with Henriette Avram, 1989, p.860.

Ignatius Sancho photo

“Were I as rich in worldly commodity, as in hearty will, I would thank you most princely for your very welcome and agreeable letter;- but, were it so, I should not proportion my gratitude to your wants;- for, blessed be the God of thy hope!”

Ignatius Sancho (1729–1780) British composer, writer and grocer

thou wantest nothing- more than, what's in thy possession, or in thy power to possess:- I would neither give thee Money, nor Territory, Women, nor Horses, nor Camels, nor the height of Asiatic pride, Elephants;- I would give thee Books
(from vol 2, letter 60: 5 Jan 1780, to Mr J. W___e [still in India] ).

Josefa Iloilo photo

“I welcome the democratic process allowing all sections of society to express their views on the proposed legislation. The debate taking place is, in itself, helping the nation to understand that reconciliation is a difficult but necessary process.”

Josefa Iloilo (1920–2011) President of Fiji

on the government's controversial plans to set up a Commission empowered to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the political upheaval of 2000
Speech opening Parliament, 1 August 2005 (excerpts)

Prem Rawat photo
Prem Rawat photo
Thomas Carlyle photo
Steven Crowder photo
John Stuart Mill photo
Lynn Compton photo
Evagrius Ponticus photo
Ruth Bader Ginsburg photo
Noam Chomsky photo

“When I was starting in the game industry, it wasn't uncommon to be the only woman on the entire team...I always felt welcome and I never felt awkward. In my years at Nintendo, I have come to discover that when there are women in a variety of roles on the project, you get a wider [range] of ideas.”

Aya Kyogoku (1981) Video game director

March 19, 2014 Animal Crossing: New Leaf director says team diversity, communication core to its success https://www.polygon.com/2014/3/19/5526678/animal-crossing-new-leaf-diversity-aya-kyogoku

Ulysses S. Grant photo

“I rise only to say that I do not intend to say anything. I thank you for your hearty welcomes and good cheers.”

Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885) 18th President of the United States

U.S. Grant's "perfect speech" which he used on several occasions beginning in 1865, as quoted in Grant: A Biography (1982) by William S. McFeely, p. 234
1860s

George Adamski photo

“Let us be friendly. Let us recognise and welcome the men from other worlds!”

George Adamski (1891–1965) American ufologist

Flying Saucers Have Landed

Antonio Fresco photo

“You are welcome in my mind
Follow me we're going deeper
To a place thats hard to find
Tell me, can you keep a secret
I know I know
Something you dont know
I know how to shake
To turn you on
Dont put on the breaks
Lemme keep it rolling
Can you keep it going?”

Antonio Fresco (1983) American DJ, music producer, and radio personality

Written by Antonio Fresco, Patricia Possollo, Lorena J'zel
Song lyrics, Rattlesnake https://genius.com/Antonio-fresco-patricia-possollo-rattlesnake-lyrics (2019)

Justin Trudeau photo

“To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada”

Justin Trudeau (1971) 23rd Prime Minister of Canada; eldest son of Pierre Trudeau

Statement on Twitter https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/825438460265762816 affirming Canada's commitment to refugee resettlement in the wake of President Donald Trump's controversial executive order https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_13769 banning immigrants, refugees and travelers of primarily Muslim origin from entering the United States, January 28, 2017

Timothy Thomas Fortune photo
J.B. Priestley photo
Annie Besant photo
Ralph Abraham (politician) photo

“There’s no reason, with a good Republican governor that welcomes business into the state of Louisiana, that we can’t get the space command there with our present governor there, we can build the starship Enterprise into the state before he’ll let good business into the state.”

Ralph Abraham (politician) (1954) American physician and congressman

Ralph Abraham: We’ll Make Louisiana the ‘Leading Candidate’ for U.S. Space Command https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2019/03/16/ralph-abraham-well-make-louisiana-the-leading-candidate-for-u-s-space-command/ (16 March 2019)

Eminem photo
Arnold Schwarzenegger photo
P. W. Botha photo

“I feel more welcome among the black communities than I do among Coloureds”

P. W. Botha (1916–2006) South African prime minister

Upon the resignation of Allan Hendrickse from cabinet, as quoted by Michael Parks, Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-25-mn-4089-story.html, 25 August 1987

Artemus Ward photo

“I now bid you a welcome adoo.”

Artemus Ward (1834–1867) American writer

The Shakers.
Artemus Ward, His Book http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/eafbin2/toccer-eaf?id=Weaf482&tag=public&data=/www/data/eaf2/private/texts&part=0 (1862)

Neal Stephenson photo

“Welcome to the GWOJ.”

“GWOJ?”
“Global War on Jones.”
Day 15
Reamde (2011), Part II: American Falls

Egils Levits photo
Kim Dae-jung photo

“In an era of a global economy, we can't survive without foreign investment. We must change our attitude toward foreign investment. We should welcome it.”

Kim Dae-jung (1924–2009) South Korean politician

"New S. Korea Leader Warns of Hardship" in The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/kimdaejung/kimdaejung.htm (18 January 1998)

Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Kim Bora photo

“Cinema takes me to another world. That world is authentic, real, and welcoming. Cinema doesn’t belong to the winner but to the loser/loner. The blissful loser. I like that world.”

Kim Bora (1981) South Korean director

As quoted in "Tribeca 2019 Women Directors: Meet Bora Kim – “House of Hummingbird”" in Women and Hollywood (25 April 2019) https://womenandhollywood.com/tribeca-2019-women-irectors-meet-bora-kim-house-of-hummingbird/

Katherine Maher photo

“It’s never exactly a good time to step away -- transitions always have some rough edges -- but it’s always best to do so when the organization is strong, and before you’ve overstayed your welcome. The movement is in a good, strong place. Our communities are growing, our readership is too”

Katherine Maher (1983) chief executive officer and executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation

Source: " Thanks for all the fish! / Stepping down April 15 https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/BXPWQ63CWPKMLWGA7KZRTGIMZTAVMUYW/" (February 4, 2021)

Liu Shaoqi photo

“After all, it is not a bad thing that people turn to the Communist Party, enter it seeking a way out of their predicament and approve of its policy. They are not mistaken in coming to us. We welcome them - everyone except for enemy agents, traitors, careerists and ambitious climbers.”

Liu Shaoqi (1898–1969) 2nd President of the People's Republic of China (1898-1969)

Source: "How to Be a Good Communist - 7. Examples of Wrong Ideology in the Party" https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/liu-shaoqi/1939/how-to-be/ch07.htm (July 1939)

Abu Talib al-Makki photo
Liban Yusuf Osman photo

“We welcome any country that wants a relationship with Somaliland, including China. But we won't kick out Taiwan because of China.”

Liban Yusuf Osman Politician

Source: Liban Yusuf Osman (2021) cited in " Somaliland and Taiwan: Two territories with few friends but each other https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56719409" on BBC News, 13 April 2021.

Marcel Utembi Tapa photo

“I can only say that I salute and welcome the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination. The realisation of a plural and multicultural world must be a priority in this 21st century.”

Marcel Utembi Tapa (1959) Congolese catholic archbishop

Source: DRC's Archbishop Utembi: I salute the fight against racism https://www.vaticannews.va/en/africa/news/2020-06/drc-archbishop-marcel-utembi-i-salute-the-fight-against-racis.html (17 June 2020)

Edgar Guest photo
Pooja Hegde photo

“I love the South Industry and have a lot of respect for it. I started from there, they are very welcoming to outsiders and newcomers. It has been treating me really well. My fan base is increasing and more than anything I really enjoy shooting.”

Pooja Hegde (1990) Indian actress

Source: "Pooja Hegde: Southern industry very welcoming to outsiders, newcomers" https://www.thestatesman.com/entertainment/pooja-hegde-southern-industry-welcoming-outsiders-newcomers-1502501343.html The Statesman. September 28, 2017).

Gilbert O'Sullivan photo
Larry Niven photo

“I am Yali, and I would like to welcome you to Heaven. I hope you will enjoy your stay.”

He laughed heartily, as at a private joke. “Yes, I most certainly hope you do. After all, some of you may stay forever. It is a nice place, actually, one of those infinitely rare situations where one is rewarded commensurately to one’s efforts. Surely that is Heaven by any man’s definition?”
Source: Dream Park (1981), Chapter 19, “Neck Riddles” (p. 258)

“In this tragedy I would like to underline a beautiful thing, in my opinion, and that is the Uganda's capacity to welcome.”

Giuseppe Franzelli (1942) Italian priest

The Vatican News interview with the Bishop of Lira, Msgr. Franzelli. https://www.africamission.org/en/news/l'intervista-di-vatican-news-al-vescovo-di-lira-mons-franzelli.html (26 June 2018)

Ayaan Hirsi Ali photo

“In the madrassa, questions were not welcome; they were considered impertinent.”

Ayaan Hirsi Ali (1969) Dutch feminist, author

Source: 2010s, Nomad: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations (2010), Chapter 13, “Violence and the Closing of the Muslim Mind” (p. 186)

Francois Rabelais photo
Alexis Karpouzos photo
Prevale photo

“Happiness is found in simple gestures, in attention… in cordial acknowledgments and welcome appreciation.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: La felicità si trova nei semplici gesti, nelle attenzioni... in cordiali riconoscimenti e graditi apprezzamenti.
Source: prevale.net