We are suffering. We have suffered, and we are not afraid to suffer in order to win our cause. We have suffered unnumbered ills and crimes in the name of the Law of the Land. Our men, women, and children have suffered not only the basic brutality of stoop labor, and the most obvious injustices of the system; they have also suffered the desperation of knowing that the system caters to the greed of callous men and not to our needs. Now we will suffer for the purpose of ending the poverty, the misery, and the injustice, with the hope that our children will not be exploited as we have been. They have imposed hunger on us, and now we hunger for justice. We draw our strength from the very despair in which we have been forced to live. We shall endure.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Enduring suffering for justice transforms despair into strength and hope for children.
- In plain terms
- We suffer now to end injustice, drawing strength from despair.
- What can you take from it?
- Draw strength from suffering to win justice for future generations.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does despair fuel strength?
- What hope drives endurance?
Another view
Prolonged suffering can break spirits.
More from Cesar Chavez
We seek, and have, the support of the Church in what we do. At the head of the pilgrimage we carry La virgen de la Guadalupe because she is ours, all ours, Pat…
Permalink to quote #8 We shall unite. We have learned the meaning of Unity.
Permalink to quote #10 We seek the support of all political groups and protection of the government, which is also our government, in our struggle. For too many years we have been tr…
Permalink to quote #7
Related quotes
The head must bow, and the back will have to bend, Wherever the darkey may go; A few more days, and the trouble all will end, In the field where the sugar-cane…
Stephen FosterStephen Foster quote #7 ?Si se puede!
Cesar ChavezCesar Chavez quote #1 While Women weep as they do now, I'll fight.
William BoothWilliam Booth quote #2