Quote of the day by Hubert Humphrey: ‘What I have concluded about life is that when all is said and done, we must forgive each other, and redeem each other, and move on’ Ex-US Vice President on forgiveness and moving forward

Life's deepest lessons are learned when ambitions, arguments, rivalries, achievements and ego begin to fade into the background and become distant memories. For the 38th Vice President of the United States of America, one lesson of forgiveness, redemption and courage to move on can be a great life lesson for everyone. The words were recalled by activist Jesse Jackson during his 1984 Democratic National Convention speech, when he addressed the people and reminisced about his visit to Humphrey a few days before his death. The former Vice President of the USA reflected on "sun-setting" in his life

Hubert Humphrey’s powerful reflection on life

In his 1984 Democratic National Convention speech, activist Jesse Jackson recalled a conversation he had with Hubert Humphrey three days before the former US Vice President died. Jesse shared that Humphrey had called up former President Richard Nixon from his 'dying bed,' leaving many confused about his move. When asked, he simply explained that his perspective has changed as he approached the end of his life.

From his vantage point, Humphrey explained that all the speeches, political conventions, crowds and “great fights” were all behind him. He described his stage of life as a moment when a person is “forced to deal with” their “irreducible essence” and confront what is genuinely important. He then shared the conclusion that Jackson remembered most: “When all is said and done, we must forgive each other, and redeem each other, and move on.”

Quote of the day for today by Hubert Humphrey

Quote of the day by Hubert Humphrey: "When all is said and done, we must forgive each other, and redeem each other, and move on."

What does Hubert Humphrey’s quote imply?

The quote implies that life is not all about disagreements, victories, conflicts and losses. Hubert Humphrey's quote puts forgiveness at the centre of moving on from the past. "Forgive each other" clearly acknowledges that people may end up hurting each other, disappointing or misunderstanding, but instead of letting that define the relationship, the quote points towards reconciliation. The idea of “redeem each other” adds another layer. It suggests allowing people to make amends, acknowledge and learn from mistakes and see people for more than their worst moments.

Finally, “move on” is all about not being trapped by old grievances and moving past them. Humphrey’s quote suggests that, when everything else falls away, preserving bitterness will not matter, and instead one has to find a way forward.

Who was Hubert Horatio Humphrey?

Hubert Horatio Humphrey was the 38th Vice President of the United States of America. He served under President Lyndon B. Johnson. His political career also included serving as mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 1945 to 1949. In the 1968 U.S. presidential election, Humphrey was the Democratic Party nominee but ended up losing to Republican candidate Richard Nixon.

Hubert Humphrey’s life after the Vice Presidency

After leaving the Vice Presidency, Humphrey began to teach at Macalester College and the University of Minnesota. He also served as chairman of the Board of Consultants for the Encyclopedia Britannica. In 1976, he was back in politics as a US Senator and remained in office until his death in 1978. After his death, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.