Heroes Day Quotes:

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.

- Christopher Reeve

source: "Still Me". Book by Christopher Reeve, 1999.

topic: Inspirational, Motivational, Strength, Hurdling Obstacles, Overwhelming Force

The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.

- Benjamin Disraeli

topic: Memories, Hero, Names, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Messages

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.

- Joseph Campbell

topic: Inspiring, Courage, Veterans Day, Something Bigger Than Yourself, Inspirational Military

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.

- Arthur Ashe

source: "Worth Repeating: More Than 5,000 Classic and Contemporary Quotes" by Bob Kelly, p. 169, 2003.

topic: Courage, Hero, Army, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Remembrance

The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men.

- Minot Judson Savage

source: Minot Judson Savage (1884). “Poems of modern thought”

topic: Death, Memorial Day, Sleep, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Messages

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!

- Maya Angelou

topic: Veterans Day, Women, Hero, Fireman, Women Equality

I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

- Nathan Hale

source: Before being executed as a spy by the British, 22 September 1776, in Henry Phelps Johnston 'Nathan Hale, 1776' (1914) ch. 7.

topic: Inspirational, Life, Country, Independence Day Patriotic, American Revolution

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.

- George S. Patton

source: Speech at the Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts, on June 07, 1945. "Patton, ordeal and triumph". Book by Ladislas Farago, 1963.

topic: Death, Wisdom, Memorial Day, Someone Who Is Dying, Inspirational Condolences

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.

- Billy Graham

topic: Motivational, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Inspirational Courage, Memorial Day Heroes

Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay, but we can honor their sacrifice.

- Barack Obama

topic: Memorial Day, Hero, Sacrifice, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Soldiers

Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.

- Michel de Montaigne

topic: Memorial Day, Courage, Veterans Day, Memorial Day Thank You, War Veteran

Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

topic: Life, Change, Wise, Military History, Military Leader

Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.

- Harry S. Truman

topic: Country, Memorial Day, Gratitude, Memorial Day Heroes, Fallen Hero

While only one day of the year is dedicated solely to honoring our veterans, Americans must never forget the sacrifices that many of our fellow countrymen have made to defend our country and protect our freedoms.

- Randy Neugebauer

topic: Country, Veterans Day, Military, Memorial Day Heroes, Countrymen

Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves.

- Carol Lynn Pearson

topic: Sports, Veterans Day, Travel, Memorial Day Heroes, Veterans Day Remembrance

In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.

- Mark Twain

topic: Thank You, Memorial Day, Courage, Independence Day Patriotic, Inspirational Patriotic

The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree.

- Thomas Campbell

source: Thomas Campbell, J. Logie Robertson (1884). “The Complete Poetical Works of Thomas Campbell”, p.215, Ardent Media

topic: Uplifting, Memorial Day, Freedom, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Poems

I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.

- Bob Dylan

source: Interview published with the "Biograph" album set, 1985.

topic: Courage, Freedom, Hero, Freedom And Responsibility, Heroes Day

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

- John F. Kennedy

source: Inaugural Address, 20 Jan. 1961

topic: Inspirational, Memorial Day, Freedom, Inaugural Speech, Independence And Freedom

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

- John F. Kennedy

source: Inaugural Address, 20 Jan. 1961

topic: Inspirational, Inspiring, Country, Inaugural Speech, Independence Day Patriotic

Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion.

- Calvin Coolidge

topic: Memorial Day, Patriotic, Men, Being A Hero, Fallen Hero

Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.

- Gilbert K. Chesterton

source: Gilbert K. Chesterton (2013). “The Essential Gilbert K. Chesterton”, p.69, Simon and Schuster

topic: Courage, Veterans Day, Strong, Strong Desire, Be Courageous

My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place - police, firefighters and members of our armed forces.

- Sidney Sheldon

topic: Thank You, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day Thank You, Protect And Serve

And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.

- Joseph Rodman Drake

topic: Country, Memories, Light, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Poems

The modern patriotism, the true patriotism, the only rational patriotism is loyalty to the Nation all the time, loyalty to the Government when it deserves it.

- Mark Twain

source: "The Czar's Soliloquy". Essay by Mark Twain, first published in The North American Review, No. DLXXX (p. 324), March 1905.

topic: Inspirational, Country, Memorial Day, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Messages

The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.

- George Washington

topic: Military, War, People, Memorial Day Soldiers, Military Memorial

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

topic: Love, Inspirational, Motivational, Memorial Day Heroes, Being A Hero

While we can never truly repay the debt we owe our heroes, the least we should do for our brave veterans is to ensure that the government takes a proactive approach to delivering the services and benefits they have earned, so they can access the care they need and so richly deserve.

- Kirsten Gillibrand

topic: Veterans Day, Hero, Government, Veterans Bravery, Veterans Day Inspirational

I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did.

- Benjamin Harrison

source: Benjamin Harrison (1893). “Public Papers and Addresses of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-third President of the United States. March 4, 1889, to March 4, 1893”

topic: Uplifting, Memorial Day, Military, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Messages

The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.

- Patrick Henry

topic: Inspirational, Courage, Veterans Day, Soldiers At War, Forged

I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free.

- Lee Greenwood

source: Song: God Bless The U.S.A, Album: American Patriot

topic: Army, Proud, Proud To Be An American, Independence Day Patriotic, July 4th 1776

All we have of freedom All we use or know This our fathers bought for us Long and long ago

- Rudyard Kipling

topic: Uplifting, Memorial Day, Freedom, Independence Day Patriotic, July 4

They hover as a cloud of witnesses above this Nation.

- Henry Ward Beecher

topic: Memorial Day, Clouds, Memorial, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Poems

Your silent tents of green We deck with fragrant flowers; Yours has the suffering been, The memory shall be ours.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

topic: Memorial Day, Memories, Flower, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Soldiers

I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

source: Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.3100, Library of Alexandria

topic: Memorial Day, Cheer, Soldier, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Messages

Nurture your minds with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes.

- Benjamin Disraeli

topic: Life, Positive, Veterans Day, Positive Inspirational, Happy Veterans Day

They are dead; but they live in each Patriot's breast, And their names are engraven on honor's bright crest.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

topic: Memorial Day, Names, Honor, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Poems