I think it's realistic to have hope. One can be a perverse idealist and say the easiest thing: 'I despair. The world's no good.' That's a perverse idealist. It's practical to hope, because the hope is for us to survive…

Quote by Studs Terkel

Topics: Studs Terkel Quotes

I want, of course, peace, grace, and beauty. How do you do that? You work...

I want, of course, peace, grace, and beauty. How do you do that? You work...

I hope that memory is valued - that we do not lose memory.

I hope that memory is valued - that we do not lose memory.

But once you become active in something, something happens to you. You get excited and...

But once you become active in something, something happens to you. You get excited and...

You happen to be talking to an agnostic. You know what an agnostic is? A...

You happen to be talking to an agnostic. You know what an agnostic is? A...

I thought, if ever there were a time to write a book about hope, it's...

I thought, if ever there were a time to write a book about hope, it's...

I hope for peace and sanity - it's the same thing.

I hope for peace and sanity - it's the same thing.

That's why I wrote this book: to show how these people can imbue us with...

That's why I wrote this book: to show how these people can imbue us with...

Nonetheless, do I have respect for people who believe in the hereafter? Of course I...

Nonetheless, do I have respect for people who believe in the hereafter? Of course I...

That's what we're missing. We're missing argument. We're missing debate. We're missing colloquy. We're missing...

That's what we're missing. We're missing argument. We're missing debate. We're missing colloquy. We're missing...

All the other books ask, 'What's it like?' What was World War II like for...

All the other books ask, 'What's it like?' What was World War II like for...

I'm not up on the Internet, but I hear that is a democratic possibility. People...

I'm not up on the Internet, but I hear that is a democratic possibility. People...

We use the word 'hope' perhaps more often than any other word in the vocabulary:...

We use the word 'hope' perhaps more often than any other word in the vocabulary:...

We are the most powerful nation in the world, but we're not the only nation...

We are the most powerful nation in the world, but we're not the only nation...

I want a language that speaks the truth.

I want a language that speaks the truth.

People are ready to say, 'Yes, we are ready for single-payer health insurance.' We are...

People are ready to say, 'Yes, we are ready for single-payer health insurance.' We are...

With optimism, you look upon the sunny side of things. People say, 'Studs, you're an...

With optimism, you look upon the sunny side of things. People say, 'Studs, you're an...

So people are ready. I feel hopeful in that sense.

So people are ready. I feel hopeful in that sense.

Chicago is not the most corrupt American city. It's the most theatrically corrupt.

Chicago is not the most corrupt American city. It's the most theatrically corrupt.

I always love to quote Albert Einstein because nobody dares contradict him.

I always love to quote Albert Einstein because nobody dares contradict him.

When you become part of something, in some way you count. It could be a...

When you become part of something, in some way you count. It could be a...