As long as my record stands in federal court, any American citizen can be held in prison or concentration camps without a trial or a hearing.
Fred KorematsuRead
One person can make a difference, even if it takes forty years.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Even a single individual's efforts can lead to significant change over time.
This quote by Fred Korematsu emphasizes the power of individual action and persistence in effecting change, suggesting that one person, through dedication and resilience, can have a lasting impact on society, even if that change takes decades. It serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right and the potential for one voice to inspire and lead transformation.
Themes
ChangeImpactIndividualDifferencePersistence
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about activism, one might use this quote to inspire audience members to take action.
More from Fred Korematsu
All quotes →I lost everything when they put us in prison. I was an enemy alien, a man without a country.
Fred KorematsuRead
All of them turned their backs on me at that time because they thought I was a troublemaker.
Fred KorematsuRead
Every day in school, we said the pledge to the flag, 'with liberty and justice for all,' and I believed all that.
Fred KorematsuRead
I'm Asian, so they assumed I'm not an American and that I come from Japan. Restaurants would refuse to serve me, and places would refuse to give you a haircut.
Fred KorematsuRead
My folks were so worried about what they were going to do. All they can take was what they could carry with their hands. What they had for twenty-five years of building their business was going to go out the door, or they're going to lose it.
Fred KorematsuRead
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