Top 46 Jackie Robinson Quotes From The Inspirational Baseball Player And Civil Rights Activist
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Jackie Robinson is considered a hero because he is the first African American player to play in Major League Baseball.
He started as a baseman playing for Brooklyn Dodgers. Post his retirement, Major League Baseball even retired his jersey number 42 across all major teams.
Jackie's inspiration was his elder brother Mathew who was an Olympic silver medalist himself. Besides Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie also played for the Kansas City Monarchs.
Being an African American, Jackie contributed significantly to the civil rights movement and thus is highly respected as a human being for his work. His last words, "I never had it made" sent powerful ripples across the country. Following are some of the quotations by him on his journey from a nobody to a legend.
If you like Jackie Robinson quotations, check out inspiring baseball quotes and activist quotes.
Best Jackie Robinson Quotes
Following are the best quotations comprising of Jackie Robinson quotes about racism, Jackie Robinson quotes about breaking the color barrier, and also Jackie Robinson quotes on republicans.
1. “A life isn't significant except for its impact on others' lives.”
- Jackie Robinson.
2. “I don’t think it matters what I believe, only what I do.”
3. "We are demanding that we just be given the things that are rightfully ours and that we're not looking for anything else.”
- Jackie Robinson.
4. “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me… All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”
– Jackie Robinson.
5. "We're in a real crisis situation where many times people are being turned away at the door."
- Jackie Robinson.
6. “The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me.”
- Jackie Robinson.
7. "During my life, I have had a few nightmares which happened to me while I was wide awake.”
– Jackie Robinson.
8. “I don't like needing anyone for anything.”
- Jackie Robinson.
9. “Above anything else, I hate to lose.”
- Jackie Robinson.
10. "I do believe that what I was able to attain came to be because we put behind us the dogmas of the past: to discover the truth of today; and perhaps the greatness of tomorrow.”
- Jackie Robinson.
11. "We have a social responsibility and we are held to a higher standard than other institutions."
- Jackie Robinson.
Inspirational Jackie Robinson Quotes
Here you will find Jackie Robinson quotes about civil rights and Jackie Robinson quotes on equal rights along with Jackie Robinson quotes about determination.
12. "The many of us who attain what we may and forget those who help us along the line we've got to remember that there are so many others to pull along the way."
- Jackie Robinson.
13. "There's not an American in this country free until every one of us is free."
- Jackie Robinson.
14. “At the beginning of the World Series of 1947, I experienced a completely new emotion when the National Anthem was played. This time, I thought, it is being played for me, as much as for anyone else.”
- Jackie Robinson.
15. "Discover the truth of today and perhaps find the greatness of tomorrow."
- Jackie Robinson.
16. “I know now that dreams do come true.”
- Jackie Robinson.
17. “How you played in yesterday's game is all that counts.”
- Jackie Robinson.
18. “It kills me to lose. If I’m a troublemaker, and I don’t think that my temper makes me one, then it’s because I can’t stand losing. ”
- Jackie Robinson.
19. “I do not believe that every person, in every walk of life, can succeed in spite of any handicap. That would be perfection."
- Jackie Robinson.
20. “I'm not going anywhere, I'm right here!”
- Jackie Robinson.
21. "Dodgers, ending a long period of segregation in Major League Baseball. It wound up being a momentous day not just in baseball history, but in the history of a country."
- Jackie Robinson.
Famous Jackie Robinson Quotes
Here are some of the Jackie Robinson quotes that helped with equality and Jackie Robinson quotes about respect.
22. “Baseball is like a poker game. Nobody wants to quit when he’s losing; nobody wants you to quit when you’re ahead.”
– Jackie Robinson.
23. “I guess if I could choose one of the most important moments in my life, I would go back to 1947, in the Yankee Stadium in New York City.”
– Jackie Robinson.
24. "The way I am about winning, all I ever wanted to do was finish first."
- Jackie Robinson.
25. “I don’t let my mouth say nothing my head can’t stand.”
– Jackie Robinson.
26. “Pop flies, in a sense, are just a diversion for a second baseman. Grounders are his stock trade.”
- Jackie Robinson.
27. “I ought to break this trophy into 32 pieces.”
- Jackie Robinson.
28. "I was naïve about the elaborate lengths to which racists in the Armed Forces would go to put a vocal black man in his place.”
- Jackie Robinson.
29. “I cannot stand and sing the anthem. I cannot salute the flag. I know that I am a black man in a white world.”
- Jackie Robinson.
30. "In those days a white ballplayer could look forward to some streak of luck or some reward for hard work to carry him into prominence or even stardom. What had the black player to hope for? What was his future?"
- Jackie Robinson.
31. "The only thing a manager has to do is relate to the players."
- Jackie Robinson.
32. “Yell. Heckle. Do anything you want. We came here to play baseball.”
- Jackie Robinson.
33. “This ain't fun. But you watch me, I'll get it done.”
- Jackie Robinson.
34. "The most important thing that happened to me in 1948, as far as I am concerned, is that I got thrown out of a game for heckling an umpire. It happened in Pittsburgh."
- Jackie Robinson.
35. "When I look back at what I had to go through in black baseball, I can only marvel at the many black players who stuck it out for years in the Jim Crow leagues because they had nowhere else to go.”
- Jackie Robinson.
Quotes from '42'
'42' is a movie starring legendary actor, the late Chadwick Boseman in the lead as Jackie Robinson. Here are some of the famous lines and Jackie Robinson quotes about teamwork from the movie and what other people told about Jackie Robinson.
36. "I don't care if they like me. I didn't come here to make friends. I don't even care if they respect me. I know who I am. I've got enough respect for myself. I do not want them to beat me."
- Jackie Robinson, '42'.
37. "If Robinson can help us win, then he is gonna play on this ball club!"
- Leo Durocher, '42'.
38. "Burt Shotton: When I took the Cleveland uniform off two years ago I promised the missus I'd never put on another uniform again. So the roses are beautiful and, uh, I sleep better too.
Branch Rickey: Roses and sleep are two wonderful things, Burt. But sleep you can get when you're in your casket, and flowers look great on top of it. But, uh, you don't look like a dead man to me, Burt."
- '42'.
39. "God built me to last."
- Jackie Robinson, '42'.
40. "You don't matter right now, Jack. You're in this thing. You don't have the right to pull out from the backing of people who believe in you, respect you and who need you."
- Branch Rickey, '42'.
41. "There are more coming every day and they have got talent and they want to play."
- Leo Durocher, '42'.
42. "Jackie Robinson: You want a player who doesn't have the guts to fight back?
Branch Rickey: No. I want a player who's got the guts not to fight back.
Jackie Robinson: You give me a uniform, you give me a number on my back, I'll give you the guts."
- '42'.
43. "Jackie Robinson: Um, Mr. Brock, I'm just a ball player.
Mr. Brock: Oh no no, you tell that to the little boys playing baseball in Florida today. To them, you a hero."
- '42'.
44. "I didn't go to school just to eat my lunch either. I'll play an elephant if he can help us win and to make room for him I'll send my own brother home if he's not as good."
- Leo Durocher.
45. "Reporter: What are you gonna do if one of these pitchers throws for your head?
Jackie Robinson: I'll duck."
- '42'.
46."He's a Methodist, I'm a Methodist... And God's a Methodist; We can't go wrong."
- Branch Rickey, '42'.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Jackie Robinson quotes then why not take a look at WEB DuBois quotes, or civil rights quotes.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
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