Madeleine Albright was the first woman to hold the U.S. Secretary of State post. She served from 1997 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. Known for her strong stance on human rights and democracy, Albright has left us with numerous memorable quotes embodying her beliefs, wisdom, and experiences. Here are 20 of the most popular quotes by Madeleine Albright:
Madeleine Albright’s Most Popular Quotes
- “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”
- “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.”
- “We might have the right intentions, but instead of acting, we decide to wait. We keep waiting until we run out of ‘untils.’ Then it’s too late.”
- “People are more apt to believe you if they understand what you’re saying.”
- “No matter what message you are about to deliver somewhere, whether it is holding out a hand of friendship, or making clear that you disapprove of something, is the fact that the person sitting across the table is a human being, so the goal is to always establish common ground.”
- “I was taught to strive not because there were any guarantees of success but because the act of striving is in itself the only way to keep faith with life.”
- “It is easier to put on slippers than to carpet the whole world.”
- “The best book, like the best speech, will do it all – make us laugh, think, cry and cheer – preferably in that order.”
- “I’m not a person who thinks the world can be perfected. But I think it can be better.”
- “One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes.”
- “While democracy in the long run is the most stable form of government, in the short run, it is among the most fragile.”
- “I have said this many times, that there seems to be enough room in the world for mediocre men, but not for mediocre women, and we really have to work very, very hard.”
- “In the end, no amount of protection can guarantee against the horror of violence if we don’t build an atmosphere of hope, enforce our basic codes of civilized behavior, and work to promote justice for all.”
- “If we have to use force, it is because we are America. We are the indispensable nation. We stand tall, and we see further than other countries into the future.”
- “Every step taken toward better education is a step taken toward world peace.”
- “To understand Europe, you have to be a genius or French.”
- “Great nations must have the capacity to separate at least some of their own vital interests from those shared by all.”
- “Any system that values profit over human life is a very dangerous one indeed.”
- “Democratic institutions are not automatically self-sustaining, they need to be nurtured and protected.”
- “Above all, good leaders are open. They go up, down, and around their organization to reach people. They don’t stick to the established channels. They are informal. They are straight with people. They make a religion of being accessible. They never get bored telling their story.”
These insightful and inspiring quotes demonstrate the depth of Madeleine Albright’s wisdom, her passion for human rights, her commitment to democracy, and her views on leadership and women’s empowerment. Her words continue to influence and inspire people across the globe.