In honor of his legacy, take a look at these Jimmy Carter quotes that show why the 39th president was such an impactful leader
27 Memorable and Inspiring Jimmy Carter Quotes
Updated on Apr. 15, 2025
Jimmy Carter was known for his tireless advocacy that transcended his single term in office. A peanut farmer who rose to prominence as the governor of Georgia, Carter became the 39th president of the United States in 1977. After leaving office in 1981, Carter dedicated his life to helping others, and this legacy is reflected in the many Jimmy Carter quotes that live on to this day.
His deeply held beliefs about peace, human rights and environmental issues were closely tied to his faith, and he could be seen swinging a hammer for Habitat for Humanity well into his 90s, alongside his wife, Rosalyn, who preceded him in death. Jimmy Carter died at 100 years old on Dec. 29, 2024, after spending decades as one of the most admired global leaders in history.
Reader’s Digest honors the words of our transcendent late president by compiling some of the most memorable Jimmy Carter quotes below. Keep reading to be lifted up by his profound decency and compassion.
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Jimmy Carter quotes that define his life and impact
- “We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes—and we must.”
- “The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices.”
- “To be true to ourselves, we must be true to others.”
- “Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries.”
- “Our children remain our major resource, and preserving the valuable aspects of our heritage while working to build a better world for the future is the duty of all Americans.”
- “I feel like I have one life to live. I feel like that God wants me to do the best I can with it. And that’s quite often my major prayer. Let me live my life so that it will be meaningful.”
- “My position has always been, along with many other people, that any differences be resolved in a nonviolent way.”
- “Tremendous progress can be made if we persevere through difficult challenges.”
- “It is good to realize that if love and peace can prevail on earth, and if we can teach our children to honor nature’s gifts, the joys and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever.”
- “Failure is a reality; we all fail at times, and it’s painful when we do. But it’s better to fail while striving for something wonderful, challenging, adventurous and uncertain than to say, ‘I don’t want to try because I may not succeed completely.”‘
- “Wherever life takes us, there are always moments of wonder.”
- “In our democracy, the only title higher and more powerful than that of president is the title of citizen. It is every citizen’s right and duty to help shape the future legacy of our nation.”
- “I believe that anyone can be successful in life, regardless of natural talent or the environment within which we live. This is not based on measuring success by human competitiveness for wealth, possessions, influence and fame, but adhering to God’s standards of truth, justice, humility, service, compassion, forgiveness and love.”
- “Let us learn together and laugh together and work together and pray together, confident that in the end, we will triumph together in the right.”
- “A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful and restrained.”
- “We are of course a nation of differences. Those differences don’t make us weak. They’re the source of our strength.”
- “Each of us citizens, especially in a democracy, must examine ourselves—individually and as a nation—to see how we can improve. We do this not with condemnation, but constructively.”
- “We have to inspire our children and grandchildren to take on challenges and risks that at first may seem to be overwhelming, or even impossible. They need to understand that the only failure is not trying.”
- “We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”
- “I made the point that as president, I would certainly not condemn those who were different from me, but I would try to work to end the afflictions on our society.”
- “Women are key agents of the changes we need.”
- “Ours was the first nation to be founded on the idea that all are created equal and all deserve equal treatment under the law. Despite our missteps and shortcomings, these ideals still inspire hope among the oppressed and give us pride in being Americans.”
- “Because we are free, we can never be indifferent to the fate of freedom elsewhere. Our moral sense dictates a clear-cut preference for those societies which share with us an abiding respect for individual human rights.”
- “When I reflect upon my blessings during my very nice lifetime, I am inspired to make sure that I spend the balance of the days of my existence in a productive way.”
- “But I owe my deepest thanks to you, the American people, because you gave me this extraordinary opportunity to serve. We have faced great challenges together. We know that future problems will also be difficult, but I am now more convinced than ever that the United States—better than any other nation—can meet successfully whatever the future might bring.”
- “Sometimes we face potential failure, and we have to remember to try any way to find a way to reach our goal. We can overcome many global problems and build a better world if we all work together as a community.”
- “Earlier in my life, I thought the things that mattered were the things that you could see, like your car, your house, your wealth, your property, your office. But as I’ve grown older I’ve become convinced that the things that matter most are the things that you can’t see—the love you share with others, your inner purpose, your comfort with who you are.”
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Sources:
- The Carter Center: “Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Passes Away at 100”
- CBS News: “Jimmy Carter Had a Long History with Habitat for Humanity”
