Calvin Coolidge Quotes

“After all, the chief business of the American people is business. They are profoundly concerned with producing, buying, selling, investing and prospering in the world. I am strongly of the opinion that the great majority of people will always find these are the moving impulses of our life.

But it is only those who do not understand our people, who believe that our national life is entirely absorbed by material motives. We make no concealment of the fact that we want wealth, but there are many other things that we want much more.

We want peace and honor, and that charity which is so strong an element of all civilization. The chief ideal of the American people is idealism.”

“All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work.”

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”

“Civilization and profits go hand in hand.”

“Democracy is not a tearing down; it is a building up. It does not denial of the divine right of kings; it asserts the divine right of all men.”

“Don’t expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong.”

“Don’t you know that four fifths of all our troubles in this life would disappear if we would just sit down and keep still?”

“Economy is idealism in its most practical form.”

“I favor the policy of economy, not because I wish to save money, but because I wish to save people.”

“I have found it advisable not to give too much heed to what people say when I am trying to accomplish something of consequence. Invariably they proclaim it can't be done. I deem that the very best time to make the effort.”

“I have found out in the course of a long public life that the things I did not say never hurt me.”

“I want the people of America to be able to work less for the government and more for themselves. I want them to have the rewards of their own industry. This is the chief meaning of freedom.

Until we can reestablish a condition under which the earnings of the people can be kept by the people, we are bound to suffer a very severe and distinct curtailment of our liberty.”

“If we judge ourselves only by our aspirations and everyone else only their conduct we shall soon reach a very false conclusion.”

“If we judge ourselves only by our aspirations and everyone else only their conduct we shall soon reach a very false conclusion.”

“If you don't say anything, you won't be called on to repeat it.”

“If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you.”

“Industry, thrift and self-control are not sought because they create wealth, but because they create character.”

“It is characteristic of the unlearned that they are forever proposing something which is old, and because it has recently come to their own attention, supposing it to be new.”

“It is difficult for men in high office to avoid the malady of self-delusion. They are always surrounded by worshipers. They are constantly, and for the most part sincerely, assured of their greatness. They live in an artificial atmosphere of adulation and exaltation which sooner or later impairs their judgment. They are in grave danger of becoming careless and arrogant.”

“It is hard to see how a great man can be an atheist. Without the sustaining influence of faith in a divine power we could have little faith in ourselves. We need to feel that behind us is intelligence and love.

Doubters do not achieve; skeptics do not contribute; cynics do not create. Faith is the great motive power, and no man realizes his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is eternally important, and that his work, well done, is a part of an unending plan.”

“It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.”

“It is our theory that the people own the government, not that the government should own the people.”

“It takes a great man to be a good listener.”

“Never go out to meet trouble. If you will just sit still, nine cases out of ten someone will intercept it before it reaches you.”

“No nation ever had an army large enough to guarantee it against attack in time of peace, or ensure it of victory in time of war.”

“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

“Our government rests upon religion. It is from that source that we derive our reverence for truth and justice, for equality and liberality, and for the rights of mankind. Unless the people believe in these principles they cannot believe in our government.

There are only two main theories of government in our world. One rests on righteousness and the other on force. One appeals to reason, and the other appeals to the sword. One is exemplified in the republic, the other is represented by despotism.

The government of a country never gets ahead of the religion of a country. There is no way by which we can substitute the authority of law for the virtue of man. Of course we endeavor to restrain the vicious, and furnish a fair degree of security and protection by legislation and police control, but the real reform which society in these days is seeking will come as a result of our religious convictions, or they will not come at all.

Peace, justice, humanity, charity—these cannot be legislated into being. They are the result of divine grace.”

“Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.”

“Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshipped.”