Eugene V. Debs Quotes

American labor and political leader (1855–1926)

Eugene Victor Debs (5 November 1855 – 20 October 1926) was an American labor and political leader and five-time Socialist Party candidate for President of the United States.

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Also Known As: Convict Number 9653

Alternative Names: Eugene Victor Debs • Eugene Debs • 9653 • Convict No. 9653 • Inmate Number 9653 • Eugene V Debs • The Revolutionist • Gene Debs

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There is but one thing you have to be concerned about, and that is that you keep foursquare with the principles of the international Socialist movement. It is only when you begin to compromise that trouble begins. So far as I am concerned, it does not matter what others may say, or think, or do, as long as I am sure that I am right with myself and the cause. There are so many who seek refuge in the popular side of a great question. As a Socialist, I have long since learned how to stand alone.

I may not be able to say all I think, but I am not going to say anything I do not think.

Ignorance alone stands in the way of socialist success. The capitalist parties understand this and use their resources to prevent the workers from seeing the light. Intellectual darkness is essential to industrial slavery.

Progress is born of agitation. It is agitation or stagnation.

For myself, I want no advantage over my fellow man, and if he is weaker than I, all the more is it my duty to help him.

While there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.

The working class must be emancipated by the working class. Woman must be given her true place in society by the working class. Child labor must be abolished by the working class. Society must be reconstructed by the working class. The working class must be employed by the working class. The fruits of labor must be enjoyed by the working class. War, bloody war, must be ended by the working class.

Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.

But, alas, this wealth, instead of blessing the race, has been the means of enslaving it. The few have come in possession of all, and the many have been reduced to the extremity of living by permission.

I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world.

The most barbarous fact in all christendom is the labor market. The mere term sufficiently expresses the animalism of commercial civilization. They who buy and they who sell in the labor market are alike dehumanized by the inhuman traffic in the brains and blood and bones of human beings.

The political solidarity of the working class means the death of despotism, the birth of freedom, the sunrise of civilization.

patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.

If it had not been for the discontent of a few fellows who had not been satisfied with their conditions, you would still be living in caves. Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization.

"I know that the Kaiser incarnates all there is of brute force and of murder. And yet I would not, if I had the power, kill the Kaiser. I would do to him what Thomas Paine wanted to do to the king of England. He said, "Destroy the king, but save the man.