Jackie Robinson (1919–1972) was a trailblazing African American athlete who made history by breaking the color barrier in professional baseball. Born in Cairo, Georgia, Robinson became the first Black player in Major League Baseball (MLB) when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. His courage, resilience, and exceptional skills not only transformed the sport but also contributed significantly to the broader civil rights movement in the United States.
Famous 20 Quotes of Jackie Robinson:
- “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
- “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me. All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”
- “The most luxurious possession, the richest treasure anybody has, is his personal dignity.”
- “Above anything else, I hate to lose.”
- “I never had it made.”
- “Life is not a spectator sport. If you’re going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion, you’re wasting your life.”
- “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me… All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”
- “There’s not an American in this country free until every one of us is free.”
- “The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.”
- “The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time.”
- “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me. All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”
- “Money is America’s god, and businesspeople can be the most dangerous of all.”
- “I believe in the goodness of a free society. And I believe that the society can remain good only as long as we are willing to fight for it.”
- “I had to fight hard against loneliness, abuse, and the knowledge that any mistakes I made would be magnified because I was the only black man out there.”
- “The more our feelings diverge, the more deeply felt they are, the greater is our obligation to grant the sincerity and essential honesty of those who see things differently.”
- “I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give.”
- “I think if he gets his PhD and plays in the major leagues, he will be all set.”
- “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me… All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”
- “You take a badly mangled dog, and you work on that dog and restore him to a sound, contented animal again. Well, I’m sort of a badly mangled person. I’ve been hurt and used and kicked around a lot, and somebody helped me.”
- “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me… All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”
Jackie Robinson’s legacy extends beyond baseball, as he became an emblem of breaking down racial barriers and fighting for equality in American society. His words and actions continue to inspire generations.
