Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Eleanor Roosevelt Quote Urges People to Discuss Ideas
Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote describes three kinds of conversations.
Great conversations focus on ideas and ways to solve problems.
Other conversations focus on news and events happening around us.
Some conversations focus mostly on judging or gossiping about people.
The quote says that discussing events is not necessarily bad.
However, it encourages people to think more deeply about why things happen and how to improve them.
Eleanor Roosevelt believed meaningful ideas could help people and society grow.
She was a long-serving first lady who supported racial and social justice.
Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote contrasts conversations about ideas, events and people.
The quote praises discussions focused on concepts, solutions, learning and positive change.
It suggests that discussing events can be useful but may lack deeper analysis of causes and solutions.
The phrase “small minds discuss people” criticizes judging, gossiping and focusing on personal flaws.
Eleanor Roosevelt served as United States first lady for 12 years and advocated racial and social justice.
- Who
- Eleanor Roosevelt, the quoted author and former first lady of the United States.
- What
- An explanation of the quote, “Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”
- When
- The quote is presented as today’s quote; Eleanor Roosevelt was born in October 1884 and served as first lady for 12 years.
- Where
- The discussion concerns the United States; Roosevelt was born in New York and attended boarding school in England.
- Why
- The quote encourages people to spend less time judging others and more time discussing ideas, learning and solutions.
- Quoted person
- Eleanor Roosevelt
- Quote
- “Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”
- Role
- First lady of the United States for 12 years
- Birth
- October 1884, New York
- Advocacy
- Racial and social justice
- Marriage
- Married Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1905
- Children
- Had six children, five of whom survived to adulthood