Leadership Quote by Hubert H. Humphrey

Restlessness isn’t a problem to be managed here; it’s the raw material of democracy. Humphrey stacks his clauses like a drumbeat - “If... good. If... better. If... pleased” - turning what politicians usually fear (dissatisfaction, ferment) into proof of civic health. The repetition works as a kind of moral inversion: agitation isn’t chaos, it’s momentum. By blessing unease, he gives permission to the audience to stop apologizing for wanting more than the “status quo” is offering.

The subtext is pure mid-century liberal confidence: history can be steered, not just suffered. Humphrey was a New Deal/Great Society Democrat who believed government could expand the circle of dignity through civil rights, labor protections, and social programs. In that context, “ferment” isn’t romantic revolt; it’s organized pressure - marches, union drives, policy fights - disciplined enough to become legislation. That’s why the quote pivots sharply from feeling to labor: “ideas, and hard thought, and hard work.” He’s channeling outrage away from mere venting and toward civic production.

The final line lands because it’s both chastening and empowering. “If man feels small” acknowledges the modern condition: bureaucracy, poverty, prejudice, and war can miniaturize a person. Humphrey refuses the comforting lie that someone else will fix that. “Let man make himself bigger” is a call to agency - but not solitary heroics. In his world, people get “bigger” by joining movements, demanding representation, and doing the unglamorous work of turning moral impatience into public change.