Standing Up for Beliefs Quotes

You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than live as slaves.

I hate cowardice; I will have nothing to do with cowards or political nonsense.

When you have decided that a thing ought to be done and are doing it, never avoid bein seen doing it, though many shall form an unfavorable opinion about it. For if it is not right to do it, avoid doing the thing; but if it is right, why are you afraid of those who shall find fault wrongly?

We're not descended from fearful men - not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were, for the moment, unpopular.

Use the voice that you were given. Shout what you believe in from the top of your lungs. Never let anyone quiet you.

Better to die on your feet than live on your knees.

Courage is essential to leadership.

If this be treason, make the most of it!

Political courage reads well in editorials, but it doesn't translate into political reality.

I do not regret having braved public opinion, when I knew it was wrong and was sure it would be merciless.

To rebel against a powerful political, economic, religious, or social establishment is very dangerous and very few people do it, except, perhaps, as part of a mob. To rebel against the “scientific” establishment, however, is the easiest thing in the world, and anyone can do it and feel enormously brave, without risking as much as a hangnail.

Good is towing the line, being behaved, being quiet, being passive, fitting in, being liked, and great is being messy, having a belly, speaking your mind, standing up for what you believe in, fighting for another paradigm, not letting people talk you out of what you know to be true.

I'm opinionated, and I'm comfortable with confrontation. I'm very happy to say if I believe the opposite of what you think.

I believe that it is a great mistake not to stand up for people, even when you differ with them, if you feel that they are trying to do things that will help our country.

A leader is someone who has the courage to say publicly what everybody else is whispering privately. It is not his insight that sets the leader apart from the crowd. It is his courage to act and speak up when everyone else is silent....are those who would rather challenge what needs to change and pay the price than remain silent and die on the inside.

It was difficult being a conscientious objector in the 1940's, but I felt I had to stick to my guns.

If a man isn't willing to take some risk for his opinions, either his opinions are no good or he's no good.

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.'

If you have no enemies, you have no character. Taking a stand always creates opposition.

You have to be responsible to yourself... but that doesn't mean you can't have a point of view about something.

People don't have to agree with me. They can say, 'My gosh, I can't believe I'm listening to this guy. I can't disagree with him more.' But at least they know that I'm going to fight for things that I believe in. And I don't need to be in formal office to do that.

Every man or woman who makes a stand helps keep the flame of freedom burning.

Never, ever regret or apologize for believing that when one man or one woman decides to risk addressing the world with truth, the world may stop what it is doing and hear. There is too much evidence to the contrary.

We forget that there is much more patriotism in having the audacity to differ from the majority than in running before the crowd; we forget that in the resistance of the minority some of the biggest things in our own history have been accomplished, and the man who looks on the Stars and Stripes and doesn't hold a right to say nay to his neighbor, even if the neighbor is of the larger party, has forgotten the history of his country.