名言集#11 Eleanor Roosevelt

英語が身近になればなるほど英語が好きな人が増えるのではないかと思い、
私が好きな English Quotes や English Phrases を紹介することにしました。
こちらは My Favorite English Quotes (私が好きな英語の名言集)です。 

11人目は Eleanor Roosevelt さん。
どんな人？

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (/ˈɛlɪnɔːr ˈroʊzəvɛlt/; October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist.[5][6] She was the first lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms in office, making her the longest-serving first lady of the United States.[5] Through her travels, public engagement, and advocacy, she largely redefined the role of First Lady. Roosevelt then served as a United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1945 to 1952, and took a leading role in designing the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1948 she was given a standing ovation by the assembly upon their adoption of the Declaration.[7][8] President Harry S. Truman later called her the "First Lady of the World" in tribute to her human rights achievements.[9]

… She had an unhappy childhood, having suffered the deaths of both parents and one of her brothers at a young age…Returning to the U.S., she married her fifth cousin once removed, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in 1905. Between 1906 and 1916 she gave birth to six children, one of whom died in infancy. The Roosevelts' marriage became complicated after Eleanor discovered her husband's affair with her social secretary Lucy Mercer in 1918. Due to mediation by her mother-in-law Sara, who was a strong financial supporter of the family, the liaison was ended officially.[10] After that both partners started to keep independent agendas, and Eleanor joined the Women's Trade Union League and became active in the New York state Democratic Party.

Eleanor helped persuade Franklin to stay in politics after he was stricken with a paralytic illness in 1921, which cost him the normal use of his legs, and she began giving speeches and appearing at campaign events in his place. Following Franklin's election as Governor of New York in 1928, and throughout the remainder of Franklin's public career in government, Roosevelt regularly made public appearances on his behalf; and as First Lady, while her husband served as president, she significantly reshaped and redefined the role.

…She advocated for expanded roles for women in the workplace, the civil rights of African Americans and Asian Americans, and the rights of World War II refugees. Following her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt remained active in politics for the remaining 17 years of her life. She pressed the United States to join and support the United Nations and became its first delegate. She served as the first chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights and oversaw the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Later, she chaired the John F. Kennedy administration's Presidential Commission on the Status of Women. By the time of her death, Roosevelt was regarded as "one of the most esteemed women in the world"; The New York Times called her "the object of almost universal respect" in her obituary.[11]

Eleanorさんは強い。
6人産むってすごい。
仕事場で浮気した夫を支える事を選ぶの凄い。
大統領任期4回サポートするの凄い。
脚が不自由になった夫・大統領の代わりに人前に出る仕事をこなすの凄い。
…ストレス高そうな生き方。
そんな人だから心に響く名言がどっさりあります。

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.”

どうせ批判されるのだから、心から正しいと思う事をすべき。
そうだ、そうだ！と思う。
でも心から正しいと思う事って何？
その選択を迫られた事がある人ならわかる。
いつか来るその日に備えて覚えておきたい一言。

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

将来は描いた夢の美しさを信じる人のもの。
芸術家、建築家、政治家、研究家、作家、デザイナー・・・
どれも作る人のイメージ。
何を作るのかは、その人が描きたいものによる。
無い物を作るのか、あるものを実現させたいのか。
どれも夢がある。夢がないと始まらない？

“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.”

望むことは計画をするのと同じくらいエネルギーを費やす。
計画倒れにならない秘訣は望みの強さなのだと思う。
どんなに計画をしても、望みが大きくなければ達成しない。
恥ずかしながら、途中で挫折した事何回もあります。
これしようあれしようとおもって、なんか違うと思ってやめる。
きっと願望の強さが足りなかった。
計画なんていくらでもできるけれど、途中でやめたらそこまで。
継続できることを選ばないといけないという事。
また同じことを始めてみようと思う？
全く違う事をしようと思う？

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Eleanorさんの一番有名な名言はこれかもしれない。
誰もあなたの同意なしに劣等感を抱かせることはできない。
貴方が許さない限り誰も貴方が目下だと感じさせられない。
受け入れなければ劣っていると思わせられることはない。
本当にコレそう。
誰も言ってくれる人がいないから、縮こまっている人が多いと思う。
できる人は尊敬するし、継続する人も凄いと思う。
でも皆、長所と短所がある。
全員、貴方も。貴方の長所は普通の人に比べたらとんでもなく凄い。
苦労をしてその長所を手に入れたいと思っている人が一定数いる。
その人たちにとって、その強さは頑固さは経歴は自信は夢のまた夢。
短所？そんなの誰にでもあるので数えなくていい。
でも、短所を補う方法は知っておくと後々楽・・・

Eleanor さんが好きな理由はPublic Figureだからかな。
とんでもなく目立つところにいた女性。
その分ストレスと批評といろんな葛藤があったはず。
それに打ち勝つというか、それでも頑張るというか・・・健気。
どんなに凄い人でも、中身は女の子なんですよ。
可愛いものが好きで、母親で、女で、甘いもの好きとか。
普通の事を全部ひっくるめて、そのうえでいろいろ成し遂げる。
断捨離、鬼のように上手そう。
いらんことはとことん省いてDelegateして、大事にな事に時間を費やしたからこそのいろんな偉業があるのだと思う。偉い。凄い。賢い。
ゆるーくLow Profileな人生を歩む私とは違うなぁと憧れる。

他にも彼女の良い名言がたくさんあります。
今日良いなと思ったものをここにリストしました。

“I think that somehow, we learn who we really are and then live with that decision.”
“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.”
“There are no have-to's, just choices”
“You always admire what you really don't understand.”
“I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday.”
“You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude.”
“Happiness is not a goal...it's a by-product of a life well lived.”
“It's your life-but only if you make it so.”
“Character building begins in our infancy and continues until death.”
“All of life is a constant education.”
“It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.”
“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart”
“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art. ”
“We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all.”
“Today is the oldest you've ever been, and the youngest you'll ever be again.”
“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.”
“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
“Do one thing every day that scares you.”
“Life is what you make it. Always has been, always will be.”
“If someone betrays you once, it’s their fault; if they betray you twice, it’s your fault.”
“Work is always an antidote to depression.”