It is well to be prepared for life as it is, but it is better to be prepared to make life better than it is.
Sargent Shriver

It wouldn't kill me if I were never nominated or elected to anything.
Sargent Shriver

It's the most rewarding thing to be a civil servant.
Sargent Shriver

Jews have suffered persecution from misguided Christians who tortured the Jews for their part in killing Christ. These Christians forgot that Christ died because of the sins of all men.
Sargent Shriver

Joe Kennedy isn't in the habit of having incompetents around. I wouldn't have lasted three months if I didn't have some ability.
Sargent Shriver

Just to travel is rather boring, but to travel with a purpose is educational and exciting.
Sargent Shriver

My parents had always preached the virtues of hard work. But hard work is one thing; economic struggle is another.
Sargent Shriver

My parents were second cousins. That is enough to explain all of my peculiarities.
Sargent Shriver

One of the things Mr. Kennedy taught me was that in laying out a new project, you shouldn't try to cope with every little problem.
Sargent Shriver

Racism cannot be cured solely by attacking some of the results it produces, like discrimination in housing or in education.
Sargent Shriver

Racists are irrational and illogical in their attempts to justify their prejudices.
Sargent Shriver

Respect for another man's opinion is worthy. It is the realization that any opinion is valuable, for it is the sign of a rational being.
Sargent Shriver

The natural idealism of youth is an idealism, alas, for which we do not always provide as many outlets as we should.
Sargent Shriver

The only genuine elite is the elite of those men and women who gave their lives to justice and charity.
Sargent Shriver

The Peace Corps is guilty of enthusiasm and a crusading spirit. But we're not apologetic about it.
Sargent Shriver

The Peace Corps would give thousands of young Americans a chance to see at first hand the conditions in remote areas of the world.
Sargent Shriver

The roots of racism lie deep in man's nature, wounded and bruised by original sin.
Sargent Shriver

There is an alternative to war. It has been with us forever.
Sargent Shriver

We must treat the disease of racism. This means we must understand the disease.
Sargent Shriver

When Roosevelt came along, I approved of his program, generally. I figured an economic system should work for people, not vice versa.
Sargent Shriver