Jeannette Rankin quotes

Jeannette Rankin was an American politician, social worker, and women's rights advocate, most famous for being the first woman elected to the United States Congress. A passionate pacifist, she was the only member of Congress to vote against U.S. entry into both World War I and World War II. She became a trailblazer for women in American politics and a symbol of principled dissent. Here are 13 of her quotes:

Men and women are like right and left hands: it doesn't make sense not to use both.

Jeannette Rankin

We're half the people; we should be half the Congress.

Jeannette Rankin

You take people as far as they will go, not as far as you would like them to go.

Jeannette Rankin

If I had my life to live over, I would do it all again, but this time I would be nastier.

Jeannette Rankin

As a woman I can't go to war, and I refuse to send anyone else.

Jeannette Rankin

What one decides to do in crisis depends on one's philosophy of life, and that philosophy cannot be changed by an incident. If one hasn't any philosophy in crises, others make the decision.

Jeannette Rankin

War is the slaughter of human beings, temporarily regarded as enemies, on as large a scale as possible.

Jeannette Rankin

Small use it will be to save democracy for the race if we cannot save the race for democracy.

Jeannette Rankin

I want to stand by my country, but I cannot vote for war.

Jeannette Rankin

There can be no compromise with war; it cannot be reformed or controlled; cannot be disciplined into decency or codified into common sense.

Jeannette Rankin

Go! Go! Go! It makes no difference where, just so you go! Go! Go! Remember, at the first opportunity, go.

Jeannette Rankin