"I would say that social work began in my mind in the Unitarian Church when I was ten or twelve years old, and I started to do things that I thought would help other people."
Roger Nash Baldwin
Civil Liberties Advocate
Roger Nash Baldwin was a prominent civil liberties advocate and co-founder of the ACLU, known for his commitment to social justice and individual rights.
- Born
- January 21, 1884
- Died
- August 26, 1981
- Quotes
- 7
- Rank
- #4085
About Roger Nash Baldwin
Roger Nash Baldwin — Life and Legacy
Roger Nash Baldwin was a pivotal figure in the American civil liberties movement, co-founding the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in 1920. His advocacy for individual rights and social justice was rooted in a deep belief that freedom and justice are inseparable. Baldwin famously stated, 'Liberty is the right to choose,' reflecting his conviction that personal choice is a cornerstone of democracy. This perspective not only shaped his activism but also challenged the status quo, as he fought against oppression and discrimination in various forms. Baldwin's core ideas revolved around the necessity of dissent and the protection of civil liberties for all individuals. He believed that a healthy democracy requires the ability to question authority, as evidenced by his assertion that 'Justice is the foundation of freedom.' This quote encapsulates his understanding of the vital relationship between justice and liberty, emphasizing that true freedom cannot exist without fairness and equality. Today, Baldwin's quotes and ideas continue to resonate, reminding us of the ongoing struggle for civil rights and the importance of safeguarding individual freedoms. His legacy as a champion of justice and equality remains relevant, inspiring new generations to advocate for the rights of all individuals.
Quote collection
Roger Nash Baldwin quotes
7 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"I regard the principle of conscription of life as a flat contradiction of all our cherished ideals of individual freedom, democratic liberty and Christian teaching."
"I am for socialism, disarmament, and, ultimately, for abolishing the state itself... I seek the social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class, and the sole control of those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal."
"I cannot consistently, with self respect, do other than I have, namely, to deliberately violate an act which seems to me to be a denial of everything which ideally and in practice I hold sacred."
"The rule of law in place of force, always basic to my thinking, now takes on a new relevance in a world where, if war is to go, only law can replace it."
"I always felt from the beginning that you had to defend people you disliked and feared as well as those you admired."
"The Nazi-Soviet pact of 1939, a traumatic shock to me, ended any ambivalence I had about the Soviet Union, and all cooperation with Communists in united fronts."