César Chávez Quotes

History will judge societies and governments — and their institutions — not by how big they are or how well they serve the rich and the powerful, but by how effectively they respond to the needs of the poor and the helpless.

~ César Chávez

You are never strong enough that you don't need help.

~ César Chávez

We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.

~ César Chávez

It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere. But God did not promise us that the world would be humane and just. He gives us the gift of life and allows us to choose the way we will use our limited time on earth. It is an awesome opportunity.

~ César Chávez

From the depth of need and despair, people can work together, can organize themselves to solve their own problems and fill their own needs with dignity and strength.

~ César Chávez

We draw our strength from the very despair in which we have been forced to live. We shall endure.

~ César Chávez

There is no substitute for hard work, 23 or 24 hours a day. And there is no substitute for patience and acceptance.

~ César Chávez

If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him... the people who give you their food give you their heart.

~ César Chávez

We farm workers are closest to food production. We were the first to recognize the serious health hazards of agriculture pesticides to both consumers and ourselves.

~ César Chávez

Real education should consist of drawing the goodness and the best out of our own students. What better books can there be than the book of humanity?

~ César Chávez

The end of all knowledge should be service to others.

~ César Chávez

When poor people get involved in a long conflict, such as a strike or a civil rights drive, and the pressure increases each day, there is a deep need for spiritual advice. Without it, we see families crumble, leadership weaken, and hard workers grow tired.

~ César Chávez

It is my deepest belief that only by giving our lives do we find life. I am convinced that the truest act of courage, the strongest act of manliness is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally non-violent struggle for justice.

~ César Chávez

Who gets the risks? The risks are given to the consumer, the unsuspecting consumer and the poor work force. And who gets the benefits? The benefits are only for the corporations, for the money makers.

~ César Chávez

We learned many years ago that the rich may have money, but the poor have time.

~ César Chávez

When we are really honest with ourselves we must admit our lives are all that really belong to us. So it is how we use our lives that determines the kind of men we are.

~ César Chávez