61 John Lewis Quotes That Will Inspire You to Continue His Work

These John Lewis quotes will help you celebrate his unique position in history.

John Lewis was an American politician and civil rights activist.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights leaders, inspired him to speak out against the unfair treatment of black people.

He has been a congressman since 1987, where he has helped to preserve human rights. 

People often say John Lewis is “one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced.”

His parents were sharecroppers who lived outside of Troy, Alabama.

He was born at a time in our country when segregation was legal.

This was not 400 years ago, or 200 years ago; it was 80 years ago.

One lifetime, and while it is comforting to know that we have made progress, it saddens me to think there is still an entire generation of people out there who grew up in that America. 

What exactly did John Lewis accomplish?

First, he earned a college degree, which is no minor feat anyway, but he had to leave the state of Alabama just so he could attend college because it was illegal for him to in his home state.

In 1961, he became one of the original Freedom Riders.

He was also a speaker at the March to Washington in 1963, the same place that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his famous, “I have a dream” speech.

John Lewis believed that activism was the responsibility of anyone who witnessed injustice, and he spent a lifetime dedicated to the cause. 

Don’t forget to also read these Elijah Cummings quotes on hope and justice.

You may also enjoy our collection of Frederick Douglass quotes.

If you enjoy this article, check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily motivation. 

If you want more motivational quotes, check out our motivational quotes category page.

John Lewis quotes that make the claim for activism

1. “I say to people today, ‘You must be prepared if you believe in something. If you believe in something, you have to go for it. As individuals, we may not live to see the end.” – John Lewis

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2. You must be bold, brave, and courageous and find a way… to get in the way.” – John Lewis

3. “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” – John Lewis

4. “I want to see young people in America feel the spirit of the 1960s and find a way to get in the way. To find a way to get in trouble. Good trouble, necessary trouble.” – John Lewis

5. “The civil rights movement was based on faith. Many of us who were participants in this movement saw our involvement as an extension of our faith. We saw ourselves doing the work of the Almighty. Segregation and racial discrimination were not in keeping with our faith, so we had to do something.” – John Lewis

6. “It was not enough to come and listen to a great sermon or message every Sunday morning and be confined to those four walls and those four corners. You had to get out and do something.” – John Lewis

7. Rosa Parks inspired me to find a way to get in the way, to get in trouble… good trouble, necessary trouble.” – John Lewis

8. “We need some creative tension; people crying out for the things they want.” – John Lewis

9. “What I try to tell young people is that if you come together with a mission, and it’s grounded with love and a sense of community, you can make the impossible possible.” – John Lewis

10. “Before we went on any protest, whether it was sit-ins or the freedom rides or any march, we prepared ourselves, and we were disciplined. We were committed to the way of peace – the way of non-violence – the way of love – the way of life as the way of living.” – John Lewis

11. “We all live in the same house, we all must be part of the effort to hold down our little house. When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just… do something about it. Say something. Have the courage. Have the backbone. Get in the way. Walk with the wind. It’s all going to work out.” – John Lewis

12. “We need someone who will stand up and speak up and speak out for the people who need help, for people who are being discriminated against. And it doesn’t matter whether they are black or white, Latino, Asian or Native American, whether they are straight or gay, Muslim, Christian, or Jews.” – John Lewis

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13. I remember back in the 1960s – late ’50s, really – reading a comic book called ‘Martin Luther King Jr. and the Montgomery Story.’ Fourteen pages. It sold for 10 cents. And this little book inspired me to attend non-violence workshops, to study about Gandhi, about Thoreau, to study Martin Luther King, Jr., to study civil disobedience.” – John Lewis

John Lewis quotes on the results of activism

14. “Some of us gave a little blood for the right to participate in the democratic process.” – John Lewis

15. “There’s nothing wrong with a little agitation for what’s right or what’s fair.” – John Lewis

16. “Too many people struggled, suffered, and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote.” – John Lewis

17. “Following the teaching of Gandhi and Thoreau, Dr. King, it set me on a path. And I never looked back.” – John Lewis

18. “You have to tell the whole truth, the good and the bad, maybe some things that are uncomfortable for some people.” – John Lewis

19. “Never become bitter, and in the process, be happy and just go for it.” – John Lewis

20. “People come up to me in airports, they walk into the office, and they say, ‘I’m going to cry; I’m going to pass out.’ And I say, ‘Please don’t pass out; I’m not a doctor.'” – John Lewis

21. The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. made me very, very sad, and I mourned and I cried like many of our citizens did.” – John Lewis

John Lewis quotes on inequality, equality and segregation

22. “We are one people with one family. We all live in the same house… and through books, through information, we must find a way to say to people that we must lay down the burden of hate. For hate is too heavy a burden to bear.” – John Lewis

23. “When growing up, I saw segregation. I saw racial discrimination. I saw those signs that said white men, colored men. White women, colored women. White waiting. And I didn’t like it.” – John Lewis

24. “You cannot be afraid to speak up and speak out for what you believe. You have to have courage, raw courage.” – John Lewis

25. “We are tired of being beaten by policemen. We are tired of seeing our people locked up in jails over and over again. And then you holler, ‘Be patient.’ How long can we be patient?” – John Lewis

26. “I really believe that all of us, as Americans… we all need to be treated like fellow human beings.” – John Lewis

27. “Not one of us can rest, be happy, be at home, be at peace with ourselves, until we end hatred and division.” – John Lewis

28. “I believe race is too heavy a burden to carry into the 21st century. It’s time to lay it down. We all came here in different ships, but now we’re all in the same boat.” – John Lewis

29. “Too many of us still believe our differences define us.” – John Lewis

30. “We are one people; we are only family. And when we finally accept these truths, then we will be able to fulfill Dr. King’s dream to build a beloved community, a nation, and a world at peace with itself.” – John Lewis

31. “We’re one people, and we all live in the same house. Not the American house, but the world house.” – John Lewis

32. “The scars and stains of racism are still deeply embedded in the American society.” – John Lewis

John Lewis quotes on the progress he has seen in his lifetime

33. “If someone had told me in 1963 that one day I would be in Congress, I would have said, ‘You’re crazy. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” – John Lewis

34. “Now we have black and white elected officials working together. Today, we have gone beyond just passing laws. Now we have to create a sense that we are one community, one family. Really, we are the American family. ” –John Lewis

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35. “I would say the country is a different country. It is a better country. The signs I saw when I was growing up are gone and they will not return. In many ways, the walls of segregation have been torn down.” – John Lewis

36. “When I was a student, I studied philosophy and religion. I talked about being patient. Some people say I was too hopeful, too optimistic, but you have to be optimistic just in keeping with the philosophy of non-violence.” – John Lewis

37. If you ask me whether the election of Barack Obama is the fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream, I say, ‘No, it’s just a down payment.” – John Lewis

38. “There are still forces in America that want to divide us along racial lines, religious lines, sex, class. But we’ve come too far; we’ve made too much progress to stop or to pull back. We must go forward. And I believe we will get there.” – John Lewis

39. “Sometimes I hear people saying, ‘Nothing has changed.’ Come and walk in my shoes.” – John Lewis

40. “Sometimes I feel like crying, tears of happiness, tears of joy, to see the distance we’ve come and the progress we’ve made.” – John Lewis

John Lewis quotes on government and voting

41. “The government, both state and federal, has a duty to be reasonable and accommodating.” – John Lewis

42. “In the past, the great majority of minority voters, in Ohio and other places that means African American voters, cast a large percentage of their votes during the early voting process.” – John Lewis

43. “To make it hard, to make it difficult, almost impossible for people to cast a vote is not in keeping with the democratic process.” – John Lewis

44. “Obama is not an African American president, but a president of all Americans. It doesn’t matter if you are black, white, Hispanic, he’s the president of all races.” – John Lewis

45. “The vote controls everything that you do.” – John Lewis

46. “The vote is precious. It’s almost sacred, so go out and vote like you never voted before.” – John Lewis

47. “It’s a shame and a disgrace that so few people take part in the political process.” – John Lewis

48. “The vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have.” – John Lewis

49. “We need comprehensive immigration reform. Dr. King wouldn’t be pleased at all to know that there are millions of people living in the shadow, living in fear in places like Georgia and Alabama.” – John Lewis
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50. “Black men and women were not allowed to register to vote. My own mother, my own father, my grandfather and my uncles and aunts could not register to vote because each time they attempted to register to vote, they were told they could not pass the literacy test.” – John Lewis
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More John Lewis quotes and sayings

51. “Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won.” – John Lewis

52. “Darkness cannot overcome darkness, only light can do that. Violence can never overcome violence, only peace can do that. Hate can never overcome hate, only love can do that.” – John Lewis

53. “Every generation leaves behind a legacy. What that legacy will be is determined by the people of that generation. What legacy do you want to leave behind?” – John Lewis
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54. “If you’re not hopeful and optimistic, then you just give up. You have to take the long hard look and just believe that if you’re consistent, you will succeed.” – John Lewis

55. “America, a nation destined for greatness but tarnished by a persistent, nagging untruth” – John Lewis

56. “Some people have told me that I am a rare bird in the blue sky of dreamers.” – John Lewis

57. “You are the light. Never let anyone — any person or any force — dampen, dim or diminish your light.” – John Lewis

58. “I believed innocently and profoundly as a child that the world could be a better place.” – John Lewis

59. “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”― John Lewis

60. “It is only through examining history that you become aware of where you stand within the continuum of change.” – John Lewis

61. “Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. Release all bitterness.” – John Lewis

Which of these John Lewis quotes inspired you to continue his work?

John Lewis has a unique position in history.

He was alive to witness one of America’s darkest periods of history and do the work that brought about change.

He also lived long enough to see activism lead to new laws and ideas.

Leaders across the globe have spoken about John Lewis since his death. 

French President, Emmanuel Macron, said, “A lifetime of struggle for civil rights.

A lifetime of getting into ‘good trouble,’ of fighting for a world that is more just.

A true hero.

Indeed, ‘because of you, John.”

The Swedish Prime Minister said, “Learned with great sadness this morning of the passing of John Lewis – an icon of the civil rights movement, a hero and an inspiration to us all.

My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.” 

Joe Biden also offered his condolences and stated, “John’s life reminds us that the most powerful symbol of what it means to be an American is what we do with the time we have to make real the promise of our nation — that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally.” 

It is up to us now, and the new leaders that the upcoming generations will elect to continue doing the work and ensure a world in which there is equity.

A world that doesn’t bully, one that is not unjust, and one where all people are equal.