Frances Perkins

“The New Deal was not a plan, with a beginning, a middle and an end. It was a series of improvisations.”

“Unemployment insurance is a front-line defense, for the individual and for the community, against the hazards of unemployment.”

“The people are what matter to government, and a government should aim to give all the people under its jurisdiction the best possible life.”

“Being a woman has only bothered me in climbing trees.”

“The sources of the Social Security Act are in the Declaration of Independence.”

“A government should be returned to the people, and it should be a people’s government, serving the people.”

“In America, public opinion is the leader.”

“The structure of the Social Security Act is based on the ancient Christian doctrine that 'we are our brothers' keepers'.”

“What we are trying to do in this country is to have a system of security... not for a few, not for some, but for all.”

“It is not the historic function of the Government to furnish specific individuals with jobs. We are in an emergency. We have got to have jobs.”

“I came to Washington to work for God, FDR, and the millions of forgotten, plain common workingmen.”

“Most of the ruthless things that are done in the world are done by people who do not know what is going on.”

“The social and economic conquest of the United States is not yet finished.”

“The accusation that we are establishing a bureaucracy is a bit silly... A government bureau is the only way we have of expressing the permanent interest of the people.”

“The door might not be opened to a woman again for a long, long time, and I had a kind of duty to other women to walk in and sit down on the chair that was offered...”