All quotes

I have learned already in this office that the difficult decisions always come to this desk.

Theirs is an American tragedy in which we all have played a part. It could go on and on and on, or someone must write the end to it.

Government has a right to survive and powers conferred upon it are not necessarily set at naught by the express prohibitions of the Bill of Rights.

The guaranties of civil liberty are but guaranties of freedom of the human mind and spirit and of reasonable freedom and opportunity to express them.

At the present moment in world history nearly every nation must choose between alternative ways of life.

I accept with humility the honor which the American people have conferred upon me.

In what concerns you much, do not think that you have companions: know that you are alone in the world.

Our whole system of self-government will crumble either if officials elect what laws they will enforce or citizens elect what laws they will support.

The man that stands upon a principle is the same calm, dauntless, self-possessed man under all circumstances.

Whether one be fearful or fearless, foolish or wise, troubled or serene, within that soul lies the cause of its own state or states, and never without.

Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place.

If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.

It is only when the people become ignorant and corrupt, when they degenerate into a populace, that they are incapable of exercising the sovereignty.

A President may sense and proclaim that new spirit, but only a people can provide it.

In the midst of these pleasing ideas we should be unfaithful to ourselves if we should ever lose sight of the danger to our liberties if anything partial or extraneous should infect the purity of our free, fair, virtuous, and independent elections.

There is no act which more imperatively requires to be performed under a strong sense of individual responsibility than the nomination to employments.

For the first time in our history the person elected to the Vice-Presidency of the United States, by the happening of a contingency provided for in the Constitution, has had devolved upon him the Presidential office.

Deep-rooted Customs, though wrong, are not easily altered; but it is the Duty of every one to be firm in that which they certainly know is right for them.

Have none of my Fellow Creatures an equitable Right to any Part which is called mine?

Now to keep faithful to the pure Counsellor, and under trying Circumstances suffer Adversity for Righteousness Sake, in this there is a Reward.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

in the exercise of this high power, we must be ever on our guard, lest we erect our prejudices into legal principles

Bear toil and pain, not as if wretched under it, nor as courting pity or admiration.

For death also is one piece of the business of life, and, here as elsewhere, it is enough to do well what comes to our hand.

Recollect all you have passed through, all that you have had strength to bear.