At the Rockefeller Building in New York City is a brass plaque with
quotes from John D. Rockefeller on it.  There are several paragraphs
to the effect of, "I believe in ..."

The plaque is at street level, facing the building.

What is the entire text of the plaque inscription?

Hi Argyle!

Here is the entire John D. Rockefeller, Jr. quotation as inscribed at
Rockefeller Center:

“I believe in the supreme with of the individual and in his right to
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that every right
implies a responsibility, every opportunity, an obligation; every
possession a duty.

I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; that
government is the servant of the people and not their master.

I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that he
world owes no man a living but it owes every man an opportunity to
make a living.

I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living and that
economy is a prime request of a sound financial structure, whether in
government, business or personal affairs.

I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man's word should be
as good as his bond; that character-not wealth or power or position-
is of supreme worth.

I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty of
mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross
(waste matter) of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human
soul set free.

I believe in all-wise-and all-loving God, named by whatever name, and
that the individuals highest fulfillment, greatest happiness, and
widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will.

I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone
can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might.”

“Big City Wisdom” by J. Taylor Starkey
Victoria Business Magazine
http://www.vbmonline.com/columns/d97-chat.html


Search Terms Used: 

" I believe" inscription "Rockefeller Center"



What a great quote!

Penguin

Excellent research.  Exactly what I was looking for.

One correction...

The text on the Rockefeller Center's "I believe..." plaque, quoted
from the "Big City Wisdom" article at Victoria Business Magazine
(http://www.vbmonline.com/columns/d97-chat.html), has a few
typographical errors and contains only nine "I believe" stanzas.

The Rockefeller Archive Center
(http://www.rockefeller.edu/archive.ctr/), part of Rockefeller
University in New York, is perhaps a more authoritative source of
Rockefeller biographical information. Its version of the text on the
Rockefeller Center's "I believe..." plaque is quoted in the "JDR JR.’S
CREED" section at (http://www.rockefeller.edu/archive.ctr/jdrjrbio.html),
and contains ten stanzas as follows:

---

I Believe

"I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every
opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty.

I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; that
government is the servant of the people and not their master.

I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the
world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity
to make a living.

I believe that thrift is essential to well ordered living and that
economy is a prime requisite of a sound financial structure, whether
in government, business or personal affairs.

I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to an enduring social
order.

I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man’s word should be
as good as his bond; that character -- not wealth or power or position
-- is of supreme worth.

I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty of
mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross
of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free.

I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God, named by whatever name,
and that the individual’s highest fulfillment, greatest happiness, and
widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will.

I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone
can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might."

http://www.rockefeller.edu/archive.ctr/jdrjrbio.html

---

The missing stanza from Victoria Business Magazine is the sixth one in
the Rockefeller Archive version:

"I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to an enduring
social order."

We need a Manhattanite to stroll by the Rockefeller Center and finally
confirm the plaque's inscription. Any volunteers?

huntsman-ga