"Something was in Debs, seemingly, that did not come out unless you saw him. I'm told that even those speeches of his which seem to any reader indifferent stuff, took on vitality from his presence. A hard-bitten socialist told me once, "Gene Debs is the only one who can get away with the sentimental flummery that's been tied onto Socialism in this country. Pretty nearly always it gives me a swift pain to go around to meetings and have people call me 'comrade.' That's a lot of bunk. But the funny part of it is that when Debs says 'comrade' it is all right. He means it. That old man with the burning eyes actually believes that there can be such a thing as the brotherhood of man. And that's not the funniest part of it. As long as he's around I believe it myself.""
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Activists from the United StatesLabor activistsSocialists from the United StatesDemocratic socialistsPoliticians from Indiana
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Heywood Broun, quoting an unnamed socialist in It Seems To Me, 1925-1935 (1935), p. 38
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Eugene_V._Debs
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Eugene V. Debs
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.
136 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Eugene V. Debs →
Related Quotes
"Revolutionary tactics must harmonize with revolutionary principles. We could better hope to succeed with reactionary …"
"I have not a bit of use for the "propaganda of the deed." These are the tactics of anarchist individualists and not o…"
"Denial of one's better self seals the lips or pollutes them. Fidelity to conviction opens them and truth blossoms in …"
"He who aspires to master the art of expression must first of all consecrate himself completely to some great cause."
"As a revolutionist I can have no respect for capitalist property laws, nor the least scruple about violating them. I …"
"If I had the force to overthrow these despotic laws I would use it without an instant's hesitation or delay, but I ha…"
"The sound education of the workers and their thorough organization, both economic and political, on the bassis of the…"
"An organization of intellectuals would not be officered and represented by wages earners; neither should an organizat…"
"There is no inspiration in evil and no power except for its own destruction."
"There have been times in the past, and there are countries today where the frenzied deed of a glorious fanatic like o…"