Famous Helen Keller Quotes on Happiness, Resilience & Courage
Helen Keller (1880 – 1968) was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, she became deaf and blind at the age of 19 months due to a severe illness. Despite these challenges, she grew to be one of the 20th century’s leading humanitarians and a co-founder of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union).
At the age of seven, she began to work with her lifelong teacher, Anne Sullivan, who taught her to communicate using the manual alphabet (an alphabet used by spelling out words on the hand).
Keller’s incredible story of learning to communicate despite her challenges became well-known thanks to the efforts of Sullivan, who helped Keller achieve a level of education that was unheard of for someone with her disabilities at that time.
Keller attended Radcliffe College of Harvard University and became the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She wrote 12 published books and countless articles on various subjects such as social issues, women’s rights, and blindness. She traveled to more than 40 countries and dedicated her life to helping others.
Quotes By Helen Keller
Keller’s quotes continue to be influential because they inspire resilience, courage, and optimism.
Despite facing immense challenges, she remained hopeful and positive, dedicating her life to the service of others.
Her words often encapsulate her unshakeable belief in the potential of the human spirit to overcome adversity. As such, they can provide inspiration and courage to others facing their own struggles.
Famous Quotes by Helen Keller
“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” Helen Keller
“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” Helen Keller
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Helen Keller
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” Helen Keller
“What I am looking for is not out there, it is in me.” Helen Keller
“We can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough.” Helen Keller
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” Helen Keller
“Knowledge is love and light and vision.” Helen Keller
“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.” Helen Keller
“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.” Helen Keller
“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” Helen Keller
“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” Helen Keller
“True happiness… is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Helen Keller
“Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.” Helen Keller
“Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.” Helen Keller
“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.” Helen Keller
“We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world.” Helen Keller
“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.” Helen Keller
These quotes showcase the depth of Keller’s wisdom, the breadth of her compassion, and her unwavering commitment to positive action. For more inspirational quotes, check out:
