“Remember, always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty. Always remember, others may hate you. But those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.”
- January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994
- American
- The 37th President of the United States, Lawyer, Politician
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Quote
“Remember, always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty. Always remember, others may hate you. But those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.”
Explanation
This quote is a powerful and introspective message from Richard Nixon, combining personal resilience, moral discipline, and emotional caution. The opening lines—“always give your best,” “never get discouraged,” “never be petty”—offer timeless advice on character and perseverance, encouraging individuals to uphold integrity and effort, even in the face of adversity. The latter half of the quote revisits one of Nixon’s most striking insights: that hatred, if internalized, leads to self-destruction.
Spoken during his farewell address to the White House staff on August 9, 1974—the day he resigned the presidency—this quote reflects a final act of reflection and instruction. Nixon, having endured national scandal and personal disgrace, was imparting lessons learned from both his triumphs and his failures. The line “those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them” reveals his understanding that true defeat comes not from others’ hostility, but from surrendering to it—by allowing bitterness and retaliation to take hold.
In today’s world, where public criticism, social division, and personal attacks are common, Nixon’s words resonate as a profound call for self-control and higher principle. The quote teaches that strength lies in maintaining one’s values, regardless of the surrounding animosity. It is a reminder that real victory is internal, and that grace under pressure, rather than hatred in return, defines a lasting legacy—a message as relevant in private life as it is in public service.
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