Howard Zinn quotes

Howard Zinn was an American historian, playwright, and social activist, best known for his book "A People’s History of the United States." His work emphasized the perspectives of ordinary people and marginalized groups in American history. He inspired generations to question dominant historical narratives and advocate for social justice. Here are 87 of his quotes:

There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people for a purpose which is unattainable. (Howard Zinn)
Americans have been taught that their nation is civilized and humane. But, too often, U. S. actions have been uncivilized and inhumane. View quote
Howard Zinn
Not only did waging war against Hitler fail to save the Jews, it may be that the war itself brought on the Final Solution of genocide. This is not to remove the responsibility from Hitler and the Nazis, but there is much evidence that Germany's anti-Semitic actions, cruel as they were, would not have turned to mass murder were it not for the psychic distortions of war, acting on already distorted minds. Hitler's early aim was forced emigration, not extermination, but the frenzy of it created an atmosphere in which the policy turned to genocide. View quote
Howard Zinn
If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves. View quote
Howard Zinn
Capitalism has always been a failure for the lower classes. It is now beginning to fail for the middle classes. View quote
Howard Zinn
Whenever I become discouraged (which is on alternate Tuesdays, between three and four) I lift my spirits by remembering: The artists are on our side! I mean those poets and painters, singers and musicians, novelists and playwrights who speak to the world in a way that is impervious to assault because they wage the battle for justice in a sphere which is unreachable by the dullness of ordinary political discourse. View quote
Howard Zinn
Voting is easy and marginally useful, but it is a poor substitute for democracy, which requires direct action by concerned citizens. View quote
Howard Zinn
David Ray Griffin has done admirable and painstaking research in reviewing the mysteries surrounding the 9/11 attacks. It is the most persuasive argument I have seen for further investigation [into] that historic and troubling event. View quote
Howard Zinn
If the gods had intended for people to vote, they would have given us candidates. View quote
Howard Zinn
One certain effect of war is to diminish freedom of expression. View quote
Howard Zinn
It is possible, reading standard histories, to forget half the population of the country. The explorers were men, the landholders and merchants men, the political leaders men, the military figures men. The very invisibility of women, the overlooking of women, is a sign of their submerged status. (Howard Zinn)
I am supposing, or perhaps only hoping, that our future may be found in the past's fugitive moments of compassion rather than in its solid centuries of warfare. View quote
Howard Zinn
The term "just war" contains an internal contradiction. War is inherently unjust, and the great challenge of our time is how to deal with evil, tyranny, and oppression without killing huge numbers of people. View quote
Howard Zinn
If patriotism were defined, not as blind obedience to government, nor as submissive worship to flags and anthems, but rather as love of one's country, one's fellow citizens (all over the world), as loyalty to the principles of justice and democracy, then patriotism would require us to disobey our government, when it violated those principles. View quote
Howard Zinn
The First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment rights in the United States Constitution were being violated in Albany again and again - freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, the equal protection of the laws - I could count at least 30 such violations. Yet the president, sworn to uphold the Constitution, and all the agencies of the United States government at his disposal, were nowhere to be seen. View quote
Howard Zinn
But I suppose the most revolutionary act one can engage in is... to tell the truth. View quote
Howard Zinn
History is important. If you don't know history it is as if you were born yesterday. And if you were born yesterday, anybody up there in a position of power can tell you anything, and you have no way of checking up on it. View quote
Howard Zinn
You can't be neutral on a moving train. View quote
Howard Zinn
I don't believe it's possible to be neutral. The world is already moving in certain directions, and to be neutral, to be passive in a situation like that, is to collaborate with whatever is going on. And I, as a teacher, do not want to be a collaborator with whatever is happening in the world. I want myself, as a teacher, and I want you, as students, to intercede with whatever is happening in the world. View quote
Howard Zinn
They have the guns, we have the poets. Therefore, we will win. View quote
Howard Zinn
Historically, the most terrible things - war, genocide, and slavery - have resulted not from disobedience, but from obedience. (Howard Zinn)
Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world. View quote
Howard Zinn
Pessimism becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; it reproduces itself by crippling our willingness to act. View quote
Howard Zinn
The cry of the poor is is not always just, but if you don't listen to it, you will never know what justice is. View quote
Howard Zinn
Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it. View quote
Howard Zinn