Top 20 Helen Keller Quotes to Inspire You to Never Give Up
Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama in 1880, Helen Keller was only 19 months old when she lost her sight and hearing due to an unknown illness. She was an extremely intelligent child who became aware of her difference from an early age, and was so frustrated by her inability to communicate with her parents that she would frequently fly into rages, sometimes on an hourly basis.
Then, at 7 years old, Keller met her miracle teacher in the person of 20 year-old Anne Mansfield Sullivan. Keller would later mark the day they met as her "soul's birthday," and the most significant moment in her life. Despite a tempestuous start to their relationship -- the young Keller pinched and kicked her new teacher, and knocked out one of her teeth -- Sullivan persevered, patiently earning the girl's trust and affection. With the help of her teacher, Keller learned to use her hands to interpret and connect with the world.
So began a relationship between teacher and pupil that lasted 49 years, and that saw Keller blossom into one of America's most inspirational figures. From her lifelong struggle to perfect her oral and non-verbal communications skills, to her array of academic and literary achievements, Keller's life was defined by a fierce determination to not let her disabilities hold her back. She became the first ever deaf and blind person to graduate from college in 1904, and later went on to co-found the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in 1920. Through her spirited advocacy for the rights of women and people with disabilities, Keller was committed to ensuring that those who came after her would have an easier hill to climb than she had.
Helen Keller was a leading figure of the 20th century, whose lifetime of achievement as an author, lecturer and humanitarian earned her a long list of honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964, election to the Women's Hall of Fame in 1965, and numerous honorary degrees from universities around the world.
Here are our Top 20 Helen Keller Quotes to Inspire You to Never Give Up.
Top 20 Helen Keller Quotes to Inspire You to Never Give Up
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.
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough.
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.
Believe. No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit
Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.
Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.
What I’m looking for is not out there, it is in me.
A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.
The best way out is always through.
Never bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.
The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse.
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.
Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.
One can never content to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.
When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.
While they were saying among themselves it cannot be done, it was done.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.