220 Discovering the Powerful Words of Jacob Riis: Unleashing Inspirational Quotes

Good day to all avid readers who find solace in the pearls of wisdom uttered by the great minds of the past. Today's indulgence is for the lovers of eloquent expressions of the late Jacob Riis, the Danish-American journalist, social reformer, and photographer. In this post, we will unleash the floodgates of knowledge with some of the most thought-provoking, inspirational, and incisive quotes by Jacob Riis. So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment through the intellect and wit of one of the most celebrated voices of the past.

good quotes by jacob riis (2024)

Jacob Riis is an influential social reformer and photojournalist who is best known for exposing the harsh living conditions of the poor and immigrants in New York City during the late 19th century. He believed that society had the power to change its own destiny, and his inspiring words continue to resonate with people around the world today. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at some of Jacob Riis' most powerful quotes, and explore their relevance in the modern world.

• "The slum is the measure of civilization."
• "When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before."
• "How many of us are able to distinguish between the evils we are prone to blame upon circumstances, and those which are rooted in our own personal faults?"
• "The tenement is the modern feudal castle, where the grinding tyranny of greed meets the grinding tyranny of need."
• "The surest way to improve the condition of the poor is to enable them to help themselves."
• "Rome was not built in a day, but its fall is dated from a single night."
• "When progress becomes the goal, not the means, we have lost our way."
• "The clear-seeming water is not always the cleanest, nor the white-hand the guiltless one."
• "The beauty of the soul shines out when a man bears with composure one heavy mischance after another, not because he does not feel them, but because he is a man of high and heroic temper."
• "In nothing do men more nearly approach the gods than in doing good to their fellow men."
• "The world is not a mere drift of atoms in aimless collision, but a creation in which the laws of order and intelligence have wrought out the destinies of life."
• "The cure for all the ills and wrongs, the cares, the sorrows, and the crimes of humanity, all lie in the one word 'Love.'
• "The man who can look upon a hopeless case and not despair is the one fit to lead."
• "In every man's heart there is a secret nerve that answers to the vibrations of beauty."
• "The hardest struggle of all is to be something different from what the average man is."
• "When we get to the end of our story, we may realize that we've been writing the story of a character we hardly know."

funny quotes by jacob riis (2024)

If you're struggling to find a source of inspiration, Jacob Riis got your back. His quotes can be so potent that they can make you feel like a unicorn dancing in the rain, even if you hate rain and unicorns.

• "The boy who is going to be a successful man must not believe that he can measure his progress by comparison with the others."
• "It takes no skill to buy trash cheaper than others, but it does require a knowledge of values to buy treasures at their real worth."
• "The slum dog is the one with the wagging tail, seeking crumbs from the hand that smites him."
• "A 90-degree cornfield can be killed by water. A 45-degree one withstands a light shower."
• "I make a better living as an observer than I ever did as a newspaperman."
• "I have never infested anybody with tuberculosis or put cholera in the water supply – why blame me for the condition of the streets?"
• "The journey of a thousand miles must start with a single step. Unfortunately, in America, the first step is oftentimes made backwards."
• "There are two kinds of people – those who do things and those who talk about doing things."
• "Everybody knows what a rascal I am, but they don’t believe me."
• "Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live."
• "More often the average worker arrives at the end of each day psychologically drained and physically exhausted, which takes a toll on creativity, energy and mental and physical health."
• "It is no use to preach the gospel to the people who have not had breakfast."
• "People who cannot find time for recreation are obliged sooner or later to find time for illness."
• "The man who goes alone can start today, but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready."
• "The poorest man with the smallest hut feels better than the millionaire in the largest mansion if he knows that he has earned what he has."
• "I can't verify it scientifically, but I never cry listening to Bach."

wise quotes by jacob riis (sayings)

Jacob Riis was a Danish-American social reformer, journalist, and photographer who believed in exposing the harsh reality of the lower class. His famous quotes have inspired people to take action and bring a positive change in the society. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at some of the most noteworthy quotes by Jacob Riis that continue to hold relevance today.

• "The slum is the measure of civilization."
• "Look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred-and-first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not the last blow that did it, but all that had gone before."
• "The more I think of it, the more certain I am that the greatest of all the wonders of modern civilization is education."
• "The way out of the woods is through the swamp."
• "The way to reform a man is to appeal to his better nature, not to his fear of punishment."
• "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
• "When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it."
• "The worst that can be said of a man is that he did nothing."
• "The best possible way to prepare for tomorrow is to concentrate with all your intelligence, all your enthusiasm, on doing today's work superbly today."
• "When a man is at his wits' end, it is not a cowardly thing to pray, it is the only way he can get in touch with Reality."
• "It is easier to lead men to combat, stirring up their passion, than to restrain them and direct them toward the patient labors of peace."
• "The health of the people is really the foundation upon which all their happiness and all their powers as a state depend."
• "The charity that hastens to proclaim its good deeds ceases to be charity and is only pride and ostentation."
• "The only true test of methods and systems is their success in producing the desired results."
• "Success is the product of the severest thought."
• "The things that have come into being change continually. The man with a good memory remembers nothing because he forgets nothing."

famous quotes by jacob riis (2024)

Step into the gilded age of New York City through the words and lens of Jacob Riis. The social reformer's quotes echo across generations, challenging us to confront our darkest truths and fight for change.

• "When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before."
• "The slum is the measure of civilization."
• "The sunlight that dripped through the trees was slow and thick like honey."
• "What the press lacks in discrimination, it makes up in power of repetition."
• "The more I see of democracy, the more I dislike it. It just brings everything down to the mere vulgar level of wages and prices, electric light and water closets, and nothing else."
• "I never listen to any criticism that does not come from somebody I respect."
• "A stone cutter has only his hammer to help him, but he makes use of it."
• "The man who never makes mistakes, never makes anything."
• "The other fellow's mistakes are like his debts."
• "It is not what we have, but what we use; Not what we see, but what we choose."
• "When I picked up my lens again, my heart bounded anew. The bugle sounded 'forward', and I was again a soldier."[7]
• "The full value of this life can only be got by fighting; the violent take it by storm. And if we have accepted everything we have missed something—war. This life of ours is a very enjoyable fight, but a very miserable truce."
• "The secret to success is to do the common thing uncommonly well."
• "If you steal a loaf of bread, you go to jail; if you steal a railroad, you go to Congress."
• "The world is full of people who are grabbing and self-seeking."
• "I am glad to know that the temples of King Neptune are not so fastidious as they were. Unless they were adapted to the requirements of the mere water-drinker, the old-time baptism was likely to be followed by inflammation of some internal organ or other."

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who was Jacob Riis?

Jacob Riis was a Danish-American social reformer, journalist, and photographer who exposed the living conditions of immigrants and the poor in New York City during the late 1800s.

2. What is Jacob Riis famous for?

Jacob Riis is famous for his work documenting the poverty and overcrowding in New York City tenements through his photos and writing, which helped to bring about reforms in housing and public health policies.

3. What are some of Jacob Riis' notable quotes?

Some of Jacob Riis' notable quotes include:

• "The slum is the measure of civilization."
• "The more we learn of the true nature of non-human animals, especially those with complex brains and corresponding social behavior, the more ethical concerns are raised regarding their use in the service of man – whether this be in entertainment, as ‘pets,’ for food, in research laboratories, or any of the other uses to which we subject them."
• "When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before."
• "The most terrible fight is not when there is one opinion against another, the most terrible is when two opinions are unrelated to each other, when people are not talking about the same thing."

4. How do Jacob Riis' quotes relate to social reform and justice?

Jacob Riis' quotes often address issues of social inequality and the importance of taking action to improve the conditions of the marginalized and oppressed. His quotes remind us that change often requires persistence, empathy, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the powerful quotes by Jacob Riis serve as a reminder of the struggles faced by those living in poverty and the importance of advocating for social change. By incorporating these quotes into our content, we can not only honor Riis's legacy but also inspire others to take action. Let's continue to spread Riis's message and bring attention to the issues that he worked so tirelessly to address.