Sen. John McCain, who served in the Senate since 1987, has died at age 81.

Here are 10 of the Arizona senator and former Republican presidential candidate’s best quotes on courage, happiness, and character.


On fighting for a cause:

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“Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you but is not defined by your existence alone.”

Source: Good Reads


On the nature of Americans:

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"Americans Never Quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We Make History."

Source: Good Reads


On glory:

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"Glory belongs to the act of being constant to something greater than yourself, to a cause, to your principles, to the people on whom you rely and who rely on you."

Source: Good Reads


On courage:

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"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity to act despite our fears."

Source: Good Reads


On character and happiness:

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"It is your character, and your character alone, that will make your life happy or unhappy."

Source: Good Reads


On power:

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"Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed."

Source: Brainy Quote


On the importance of shared values:

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"Our shared values define us more than our differences. And acknowledging those shared values can see us through our challenges today if we have the wisdom to trust in them again."

Source: Brainy Quote


On America's greatest strength:

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"America's greatest strength has always been its hopeful vision of human progress."

Source: Brainy Quote


On the national consensus:

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"Our political differences, now matter how sharply they are debated, are really quite narrow in comparison to the remarkably durable national consensus on our founding convictions."

Source: Brainy Quote


On America:

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"We are a country with a conscience."

Source: Brainy Quote