George Meany Quotes

One cannot have a trade union or a democratic election without freedom of speech, freedom of association and assembly. Without a democratic election, whereby people choose and remove their rulers, there is no method of securing human rights against the state. No democracy without human rights, no human rights without democracy, and no trade union rights without either. That is our belief; that is our creed.

George Meany

• Freedom
• Human
• Election

It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government.

George Meany

• Government
• Impossible
• Bargain

The basic goal of labor will not change. It is - as it has always been, and I am sure always will be - to better the standards of life for all who work for wages and to seek decency and justice and dignity for all Americans.

George Meany

• Change
• Americans
• Standards

The one profession where you can gain great eminence without ever being right.

George Meany

• Great
• Profession
• Eminence

Anybody who has doubts about the ingenuity or the resourcefulness of a plumber never got a bill from one.

George Meany

• Anybody
• Ingenuity
• Resourcefulness

Labor never quits. We never give up the fight - no matter how tough the odds, no matter how long it takes.

George Meany

• Matter
• Labor
• Odds

Every piece of progressive social legislation passed by Congress in the 20th century bears a union label.

George Meany

• Congress
• Piece
• Label

Economics was the only profession where a person could be considered an expert without having once been right.

George Meany

• Profession
• Economics
• Once

We heard from the abortionists and we heard from the people who looked like Jacks, acted like Jills and had the odors of Johns.

George Meany

• People
• Heard
• Had

The most persistent threat to freedom, to the rights of Americans, is fear.

George Meany

• Freedom
• Americans
• Persistent