"On closing this book, if I was to leave you with only one thought, it would be this: My life story could only happen in America. Look at my life: Here was a guy with very little observable potential- nothing much behind him except a couple loving parents. But because of the way this country functions I was able to make my way through and have a very good life. I don't think I had any special talent or ability. Anybody could do what I did if he wanted to. I've never resented anybody ho has something I didn't have, because I knew that in this country if I worked hard enough I could have it, too. The system in America allows for and welcomes success. That's worth fighting for if someone threatens to take it away. You can have anything or be anything you want in this country if you put your mind to it. Don't let anybody take that away from you."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Judges from the United StatesLawyers from the United StatesSilver Star Medal recipientsSoldiersPolice officers from the United States
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
p. 254
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lynn_Compton
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Lynn Compton
Lynn Davis "Buck" Compton (December 31, 1921 – February 25, 2012) was an American jurist, police officer, and soldier. In his legal career, he served as a prosecutor and California Court of Appeal judge, and is most notable as having been the lead prosecutor in Sirhan Sirhan's trial for the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Previously, he served with the Los Angeles Police Department. During World War II, he was a commissioned officer with E Company, 2nd Battalion, [[w:50
22 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Lynn Compton →
Related Quotes
"In those first few days and weeks after the suicide, everyone we talked to was as shocked as we were. To this day nob…"
"Sometimes the greatest signs of strength are demonstrated when you relive the hardest parts of your life. I'm not a m…"
"As young people, my generation would see a lot of death. I don't think I ever grew accustomed to it. It came in darkn…"
"Back at Toccoa, Easy Company had been led by Captain Herbert Sobel (portrayed in the Band of Brothers miniseries by D…"
"But success in a military operation always feels short-lived. You shoulder your rifle and move on from there to the n…"
"Secrets have power over us. Only when secrets are revealed can truth be known and freedom brought about."
"Sergeant Bill Guarnere sat with me on many of those nights. He was much more softhearted than he ever let on. In the …"
"Constantly we anticipated a large-scale nighttime attack. But day after day, night after night, it never came."
"Just before Christmas, 1944, we got word that the Germans had closed the circle around Bastogne. This meant that the …"
"The life I've led has only been made possible because I'm an American. The astounding people I've met along the way, …"