Monday, May 8, marks the 133rd birth anniversary of former President Harry S. Truman. He was born in Lamar, Missouri, where his birthday — known as “Truman Day” is a state holiday.

He is the only Missourian so far to become president. Prior to becoming the 33rd president of the U.S., Truman served in the Missouri National Guard and later became one of three judges of the Jackson County Court even though he did not have a law degree. According to Truman Library, his position was an administrative one instead of judicial.

In 1934, was elected to the U.S. senate and remained there for a decade. During his time in the senate, he served as chairman of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program.

Truman became the U.S. president in April 1945 following the death of his predecessor Franklin D. Roosevelt. Truman was in the office till 1953.

He is known for the Marshall Plan to restore the Western Europe economy of Western, for leading the Cold War against Soviet and Chinese communism and establishing NATO.

Here are some of Truman’s famous quotes taken from AZ Quotes and Brainy Quote.

“You can't get rich in politics unless you're a crook.”

“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.”

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”

“A president needs political understanding to run the government, but he may be elected without it.”

“The difficulty with businessmen entering politics, after they've had a successful business career, is that they want to start at the top.”

“Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”

“A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.”

“I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.”

“If you can't convince them, confuse them.”

“The White House is the finest prison in the world.”

“A president cannot always be popular.”

“A bureaucrat is a Democrat who holds some office that a Republican wants.”

“If we do not abolish war on this earth, then surely one day war will abolish us from the earth.”

“An optimist is presented with a problem and sees an opportunity. A pessimist is presented with an opportunity and sees a problem.”

“The friendless, the weak, the victims of prejudice and public excitement are entitled to the same quality of justice and fair play that the rich, the powerful, the well-connected, and the fellow with pull thinks he can get.”

“I found that the men and women who got to the top were those who did the jobs they had in hand, with everything they had of energy and enthusiasm and hard work.”

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