Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

70 Top Harry S. Truman Quotes That You Must Know

Famous As: 33rd President of the United States
Born On: May 8, 1884
Died On: December 26, 1972
Born In: Lamar, Missouri, United States
Founder / Co Founder: United States Atomic Energy Commission, General Services Administration, United States National Security Agency, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Petroleum Council, United States Department of Defense, Psychological Strategy Board, Federal Civi
Died At Age: 88
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of America who took over the presidency after sudden and sad demise of the then President Franklin D.Roosevelt. He administered the end of World War II and is infamous for validating the use of nuclear weapons against Japan. Truman never went to college. After he graduated from high school, he tried his hands on several jobs before joining the military duty voluntarily for World War I. His bravery and valor that earned admiration, respect and the post of the captain. The Presidency of Truman was marked by the onset of Cold War. Once he accomplished his second term he went back to his native place and spent the rest of his life there. Following are some famous words, thoughts and views that the notorious politician shared through his speeches, life and works. Read through the thoughts, sayings and opinions by Harry S. Truman which are till date used as quotable quotes.
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Being too good is apt to be uninteresting.

Being too good is apt to be uninteresting.

Harry S. Truman
It sure is hell to be president.

It sure is hell to be president.

Harry S. Truman
Art is parasitic on life, just as criticism is parasitic on art.

Art is parasitic on life, just as criticism is parasitic on art.

Harry S. Truman
Study men, not historians.

Study men, not historians.

Harry S. Truman
This administration is going to be cussed and discussed for years to come.

This administration is going to be cussed and discussed for years to come.

Harry S. Truman
I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.

I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.

Harry S. Truman
Well, I wouldn't say that I was in the great class, but I had a great time while I was trying to be great.

Well, I wouldn't say that I was in the great class, but I had a great time while I was trying to be great.

Harry S. Truman
I've said many a time that I think the Un-American Activities Committee in the House of Representatives was the most un-American thing in America!

I've said many a time that I think the Un-American Activities Committee in the House of Representatives was the most un-American thing in America!

Harry S. Truman
Most of the problems a President has to face have their roots in the past.

Most of the problems a President has to face have their roots in the past.

Harry S. Truman
Whenever a fellow tells me he's bipartisan, I know he's going to vote against me.

Whenever a fellow tells me he's bipartisan, I know he's going to vote against me.

Harry S. Truman
Upon books the collective education of the race depends; they are the sole instruments of registering, perpetuating and transmitting thought.

Upon books the collective education of the race depends; they are the sole instruments of registering, perpetuating and transmitting thought.

Harry S. Truman
If I hadn't been President of the United States, I probably would have ended up a piano player in a bawdy house.

If I hadn't been President of the United States, I probably would have ended up a piano player in a bawdy house.

Harry S. Truman
The human animal cannot be trusted for anything good except en masse. The combined thought and action of the whole people of any race, creed or nationality, will always point in the right direction.

The human animal cannot be trusted for anything good except en masse. The combined thought and action of the whole people of any race, creed or nationality, will always point in the right direction.

Harry S. Truman
In my opinion eight years as president is enough and sometimes too much for any man to serve in that capacity.

In my opinion eight years as president is enough and sometimes too much for any man to serve in that capacity.

Harry S. Truman
I would rather have peace in the world than be President.

I would rather have peace in the world than be President.

Harry S. Truman
A bureaucrat is a Democrat who holds some office that a Republican wants.

A bureaucrat is a Democrat who holds some office that a Republican wants.

Harry S. Truman
I had faith in Israel before it was established, I have in it now. I believe it has a glorious future before it - not just another sovereign nation, but as an embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization.

I had faith in Israel before it was established, I have in it now. I believe it has a glorious future before it - not just another sovereign nation, but as an embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization.

Harry S. Truman
It's plain hokum. If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em. It's an old political trick. But this time it won't work.

It's plain hokum. If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em. It's an old political trick. But this time it won't work.

Harry S. Truman
My father was not a failure. After all, he was the father of a president of the United States.

My father was not a failure. After all, he was the father of a president of the United States.

Harry S. Truman
We shall never be able to remove suspicion and fear as potential causes of war until communication is permitted to flow, free and open, across international boundaries.

We shall never be able to remove suspicion and fear as potential causes of war until communication is permitted to flow, free and open, across international boundaries.

Harry S. Truman
I have no desire to crow over anybody or to see anybody eating crow, figuratively or otherwise. We should all get together and make a country in which everybody can eat turkey whenever he pleases.

I have no desire to crow over anybody or to see anybody eating crow, figuratively or otherwise. We should all get together and make a country in which everybody can eat turkey whenever he pleases.

Harry S. Truman
All my life, whenever it comes time to make a decision, I make it and forget about it.

All my life, whenever it comes time to make a decision, I make it and forget about it.

Harry S. Truman
A President cannot always be popular.

A President cannot always be popular.

Harry S. Truman
I never gave anybody hell! I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.

I never gave anybody hell! I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.

Harry S. Truman
Any man who has had the job I've had and didn't have a sense of humor wouldn't still be here.

Any man who has had the job I've had and didn't have a sense of humor wouldn't still be here.

Harry S. Truman
The buck stops here!

The buck stops here!

Harry S. Truman
If I'd known how much packing I'd have to do, I'd have run again.

If I'd known how much packing I'd have to do, I'd have run again.

Harry S. Truman
I remember when I first came to Washington. For the first six months you wonder how the hell you ever got here. For the next six months you wonder how the hell the rest of them ever got here.

I remember when I first came to Washington. For the first six months you wonder how the hell you ever got here. For the next six months you wonder how the hell the rest of them ever got here.

Harry S. Truman
A president either is constantly on top of events or, if he hesitates, events will soon be on top of him. I never felt that I could let up for a moment.

A president either is constantly on top of events or, if he hesitates, events will soon be on top of him. I never felt that I could let up for a moment.

Harry S. Truman
Whenever you put a man on the Supreme Court he ceases to be your friend.

Whenever you put a man on the Supreme Court he ceases to be your friend.

Harry S. Truman
The Marine Corps is the Navy's police force and as long as I am President that is what it will remain. They have a propaganda machine that is almost equal to Stalin's.

The Marine Corps is the Navy's police force and as long as I am President that is what it will remain. They have a propaganda machine that is almost equal to Stalin's.

Harry S. Truman
Experience has shown how deeply the seeds of war are planted by economic rivalry and social injustice.

Experience has shown how deeply the seeds of war are planted by economic rivalry and social injustice.

Harry S. Truman
Richard Nixon is a no good, lying bastard. He can lie out of both sides of his mouth at the same time, and if he ever caught himself telling the truth, he'd lie just to keep his hand in.

Richard Nixon is a no good, lying bastard. He can lie out of both sides of his mouth at the same time, and if he ever caught himself telling the truth, he'd lie just to keep his hand in.

Harry S. Truman
It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours.

It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours.

Harry S. Truman
The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all.

The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all.

Harry S. Truman
Those who want the Government to regulate matters of the mind and spirit are like men who are so afraid of being murdered that they commit suicide to avoid assassination.

Those who want the Government to regulate matters of the mind and spirit are like men who are so afraid of being murdered that they commit suicide to avoid assassination.

Harry S. Truman
All the president is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing, and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway.

All the president is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing, and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway.

Harry S. Truman
When you get to be President, there are all those things, the honors, the twenty-one gun salutes, all those things. You have to remember it isn't for you. It's for the Presidency.

When you get to be President, there are all those things, the honors, the twenty-one gun salutes, all those things. You have to remember it isn't for you. It's for the Presidency.

Harry S. Truman
The atom bomb was no 'great decision.' It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness.

The atom bomb was no 'great decision.' It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness.

Harry S. Truman
You can never get all the facts from just one newspaper, and unless you have all the facts, you cannot make proper judgements about what is going on.

You can never get all the facts from just one newspaper, and unless you have all the facts, you cannot make proper judgements about what is going on.

Harry S. Truman
I do not believe there is a problem in this country or the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount.

I do not believe there is a problem in this country or the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount.

Harry S. Truman
Nixon is one of the few in the history of this country to run for high office talking out of both sides of his mouth at the same time and lying out of both sides.

Nixon is one of the few in the history of this country to run for high office talking out of both sides of his mouth at the same time and lying out of both sides.

Harry S. Truman
It is understanding that gives us an ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow's viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we can sit down and work out our differences.

It is understanding that gives us an ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow's viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we can sit down and work out our differences.

Harry S. Truman
A politician is a man who understands government. A statesman is a politician who's been dead for 15 years.

A politician is a man who understands government. A statesman is a politician who's been dead for 15 years.

Harry S. Truman
Washington is a very easy city for you to forget where you came from and why you got there in the first place.

Washington is a very easy city for you to forget where you came from and why you got there in the first place.

Harry S. Truman
The best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.

The best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.

Harry S. Truman
A President needs political understanding to run the government, but he may be elected without it.

A President needs political understanding to run the government, but he may be elected without it.

Harry S. Truman
A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.

Harry S. Truman
Always be sincere, even if you don't mean it.

Always be sincere, even if you don't mean it.

Harry S. Truman
You know that being an American is more than a matter of where your parents came from. It is a belief that all men are created free and equal and that everyone deserves an even break.

You know that being an American is more than a matter of where your parents came from. It is a belief that all men are created free and equal and that everyone deserves an even break.

Harry S. Truman
Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don't ever apologize for anything.

Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don't ever apologize for anything.

Harry S. Truman
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Harry S. Truman
The President is always abused. If he isn't, he isn't doing anything.

The President is always abused. If he isn't, he isn't doing anything.

Harry S. Truman
Intense feeling too often obscures the truth.

Intense feeling too often obscures the truth.

Harry S. Truman
You and I are stuck with the necessity of taking the worst of two evils or none at all. So-I'm taking the immature Democrat as the best of the two. Nixon is impossible.

You and I are stuck with the necessity of taking the worst of two evils or none at all. So-I'm taking the immature Democrat as the best of the two. Nixon is impossible.

Harry S. Truman
You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.

You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.

Harry S. Truman
The White House is the finest prison in the world.

The White House is the finest prison in the world.

Harry S. Truman
You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand a little one. I don't believe in little plans. I believe in plans big enough to meet a situation which we can't possibly foresee now.

You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand a little one. I don't believe in little plans. I believe in plans big enough to meet a situation which we can't possibly foresee now.

Harry S. Truman
When you have an efficient government, you have a dictatorship.

When you have an efficient government, you have a dictatorship.

Harry S. Truman
A leader in the Democratic Party is a boss, in the Republican Party he is a leader.

A leader in the Democratic Party is a boss, in the Republican Party he is a leader.

Harry S. Truman
I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.

I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.

Harry S. Truman
In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves... self-discipline with all of them came first.

In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves... self-discipline with all of them came first.

Harry S. Truman
When even one American - who has done nothing wrong - is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth - then all Americans are in peril.

When even one American - who has done nothing wrong - is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth - then all Americans are in peril.

Harry S. Truman
If you can't convince them, confuse them.

If you can't convince them, confuse them.

Harry S. Truman
There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.

There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.

Harry S. Truman
It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.

Harry S. Truman
The United Nations is designed to make possible lasting freedom and independence for all its members.

The United Nations is designed to make possible lasting freedom and independence for all its members.

Harry S. Truman
America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.

America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.

Harry S. Truman
Actions are the seed of fate deeds grow into destiny.

Actions are the seed of fate deeds grow into destiny.

Harry S. Truman
Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.

Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.

Harry S. Truman