Eleanor Roosevelt quotes
1884 – 1962 · 20th century · Political figure, diplomat and author
About Eleanor Roosevelt
Born in New York in 1884, Eleanor Roosevelt transformed the role of First Lady into an active public career. After 1945 she served as a UN delegate, wrote widely, and championed progressive causes, human rights and civic engagement through the mid-20th century.
Works: Newspaper columns, speeches, diplomatic work; influential in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Quotes
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Source: no specific work is documented · Check the source
Disputed attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- Widely attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, but quote researchers have not found this exact wording in her authenticated writings; earliest strong matches appear decades after her death.
- What remains uncertain
- The attribution is disputed: evidence ties the line to later printing and proverb-like circulation rather than a specific Roosevelt source.
The line explains why a vivid vision matters: seeing your dreams as beautiful gives purpose and drive to effort. It matches Eleanor Roosevelt’s public themes—hope, duty, human dignity—and today serves as a compact call to turn ideals into action.