Although they deserve to be celebrated all year round, Veterans Day on November 11 serves as a special time for honoring America's heroes. Unlike other patriotic holidays like Memorial Day or the 4th of July, Veterans Day specifically centers around the sacrifices of all veterans, past and present. While expressing gratitude may feel like a daunting task, one meaningful way to start is by reflecting on these powerful Veterans Day quotes, which celebrate the courage and dedication of those who have served our country.
This list is full of patriotic quotes that will help put into perspective the great lengths they've gone through. This quote by John F. Kennedy is a great example: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” Others on this list are inspiring quotes for those who need a reminder of the freedom our country has. This quote by Bob Dylan serves the purpose: “A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” In all, it's important to remember just why we have Veterans Day, so read these quotes as a way to replenish your appreciation.
For even more inspirational words to reflect on, check out these quotes:
Oliver Wendell Holmes
“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one Nation, evermore!”
Barack Obama
“In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country, can change it.”
Marquis de Lafayette
“Humanity has won its battle. Liberty now has a country.”
Nick Lampson
“There is nothing nobler than risking your life for your country.”
James Bryce
“Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong.”
Albert Camus
"Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better."
Emma Donaghue
"Scared is what you're feeling. Brave is what you're doing."
Jeff Miller
"The willingness of America's veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude."
General Norman Schwarzkopf
“It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.”
Cynthia Ozick
“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”
Bernard Malamud
“Without heroes, we are all plain people, and don’t know how far we can go.”
Ruth Gordon
“Courage is very important. Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
“If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”
Nelson Mandela
“It is so easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build.”
General Omar Bradley
“Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared to death.”
Benjamin Disraeli
“The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.”
Bob Dylan
“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.”
Joseph Campbell
“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”
Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.
“It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.”
Daniel Webster
“Their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.”
Josiah is the Digital Content Producer for the commerce team at Popular Mechanics, Best Products, Runner’s World, and Bicycling Magazine. He also writes for “BIO Buys”—a column on Biography.com—giving readers the lowdown on what products their favorite celebs are using. In another life, Josiah was an editor at ThePioneerWoman.com, where he sharpened his expertise on all things lifestyle, food-news, and entertainment. Outside work related matters, he’s a fan of Studio Ghibli films, unimportant reality TV drama, and melancholy Lorde songs.
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