In 1968, I became a vegetarian after realizing that animals feel afraid, cold, hungry, and unhappy like we do.
Cesar ChavezWe'll organize workers in this movement as long as we're willing to sacrifice. The moment we stop sacrificing, we stop organizing.
Cesar ChavezToday, the growers are like a punch-drunk old boxer who doesn't know he's past his prime. The times are changing. The political and social environment has changed. The chickens are coming home to roost - and the time to account for past sins is approaching.
Cesar ChavezThe strike and the boycott, they have cost us much. What they have not paid us in wages, better working conditions, and new contracts, they have paid us in self-respect and human dignity.
Cesar ChavezI think one of the great, great problems...is confusing people to the point where they become immobile. In fact, the more things people can find out for themselves, the more vigor the organization is going to have.
Cesar ChavezThese observations tie in directly with the whole question of organizing. Why do we have leaders? We put some people out in the fields and all of a sudden they hit, they click. Everyone's happy with them and they begin to move mountains. With other people there are problems and heartaches. They just don't go. When we look and see what's happening, almost invariably the differences are along the lines of willingness to sacrifice and work long hours.
Cesar Chavez