Calvin Coolidge Quotes

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.

~ Calvin Coolidge

It takes a great man to be a good listener.

~ Calvin Coolidge

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.

~ Calvin Coolidge

Knowledge comes, but Wisdom lingers. It may not be difficult to store up in the mind a vast quantity of facts within a comparatively short time, but the ability to form judgments requires the severe discipline of hard work and the tempering heat of experience and maturity.

~ Calvin Coolidge

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

~ Calvin Coolidge

...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.

~ Calvin Coolidge

The Business of Our Firm is Business-Donald W. Hudspeth from:The Business of America is Business-Calvin Coolidge

~ Calvin Coolidge

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

~ Calvin Coolidge

They criticize me for harping on the obvious; if all the folks in the United States would do the few simple things they know they ought to do, most of our big problems would take care of themselves.

~ Calvin Coolidge

This country would not be a land of opportunity, America could not be America, if the people were shackled with government monopolies.

~ Calvin Coolidge

The government of the United States is a device for maintaining in perpetuity the rights of the people, with the ultimate extinction of all privileged classes.

~ Calvin Coolidge

The collection of taxes which are not absolutely required, which do not beyond reasonable doubt contribute to the public welfare, is only a species of legalized larceny.

~ Calvin Coolidge

Under the attempt to perform the impossible there sets in a general disintegration. When legislation fails, those who look upon it as a sovereign remedy simply cry out for more legislation.A sound and wise statesmanship which recognizes and attempts to abide by its limitations will undoubtedly find itself displaced by that type of public official who promises much, talks much, legislates much, expends much, but accomplishes little.The deliberate, sound judgement of the country is likely to find it has been superseded by a popular whim.

~ Calvin Coolidge

Nothing in this 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.

~ Calvin Coolidge

You don't have to explain something you haven't said.

~ Calvin Coolidge

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

~ Calvin Coolidge

Wherever we look, the work of the chemist has raised the level of our civilization and has increased the productive capacity of our nation.

~ Calvin Coolidge

We cannot do everything at once but we can do something at once.

~ Calvin Coolidge

There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody anywhere anytime.

~ Calvin Coolidge

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

~ Calvin Coolidge

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not nothing is more common than unsuccessful men of 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.

~ Calvin Coolidge

Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business.

~ Calvin Coolidge

Little progress can be made by merely attempting to repress what is evil. Our great hope lies in developing what is good.

~ Calvin Coolidge

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.

~ Calvin Coolidge

I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm.

~ Calvin Coolidge

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

~ Calvin Coolidge

Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. It may not be difficult to store up in the mind a vast quantity of facts within a comparatively short time, but the ability to form judgments requires the severe discipline of hard work and the tempering heat of experience and maturity.

~ Calvin Coolidge

When a great many people are unable to find work, unemployment results.

~ Calvin Coolidge

When more and more people are thrown out of work, unemployment results.

~ Calvin Coolidge

Men speak of natural rights, but I challenge any one to show where in nature any rights existed or were recognized until there was established for their declaration and protection a duly promulgated body of corresponding laws.

~ Calvin Coolidge

Don't expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong.

~ Calvin Coolidge

There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no one independence quite so important, as living within your means.

~ Calvin Coolidge

It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow.

~ Calvin Coolidge

We do not need more intellectual power, we need more spiritual power. We do not need more of the things that are seen, we need more of the things that are unseen.

~ Calvin Coolidge

Those who trust to chance must abide by the results of chance.

~ Calvin Coolidge

No enterprise can exist for itself alone. It ministers to some great need, it performs some great service, not for itself, but for others; or failing therein, it ceases to be profitable and ceases to exist.

~ Calvin Coolidge

Patriotism is easy to understand in America. It means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.

~ Calvin Coolidge

I have never been hurt by what I have not said.

~ Calvin Coolidge

We need more of the Office Desk and less of the Show Window in politics. Let men in office substitute the midnight oil for the limelight.

~ Calvin Coolidge

If I had permitted my failures, or what seemed to me at the time a lack of success, to discourage me I cannot see any way in which I would ever have made progress.

~ Calvin Coolidge