Martin Van Buren
Quotations

I tread in the footsteps of illustrious men . . . in receiving from the people the sacred trust confided to my illustrious predecessor.

All the lessons of history and experience must be lost upon us if we are content to trust alone to the peculiar advantages we happen to possess.

As to the presidency, the two happiest days of my life were those of my entrance upon the office and my surrender of it.

For myself, therefore, I desire to declare that the principle that will govern me in the high duty to which my country calls me is a strict adherence to the letter and spirit of the Constitution as it was designed by those who framed it.

All communities are apt to look to government for too much. Even in our own country, where its powers and duties are so strictly limited, we are prone to do so, especially at periods of sudden embarrassment and distress.

It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn't.

No evil can result from its inhibition more pernicious than its toleration.

On receiving from the people the sacred trust twice confided on my illustrious predecessor, and which he has discharged so faithfully and so well, I know that I can not expect to perform the arduous task with equal ability and success.

The less government interferes with private pursuits, the better for general prosperity.

The people under our system, like the king in a monarchy, never dies.

There is a power in public opinion in this country—and I thank God for it: for it is the most honest and best of all powers—which will not tolerate an incompetent or unworthy man to hold in his weak or wicked hands the lives and fortunes of his fellow-citizens.

To avoid the necessity of a permanent debt and its inevitable consequences, I have advocated and endeavored to carry into effect the policy of confining the appropriations for the public service to such objects only as are clearly with the constitutional authority of the Federal Government.

Unlike all who have preceded me, the Revolution that gave us existence as one people was achieved at the period of my birth; and whilst I contemplate with grateful reverence that memorable event, I feel that I belong to a later age and that I may not expect my countrymen to weigh my actions with the same kind and partial hand.

Mutual forbearance and reciprocal concessions: thro’ their agency the Union was established—the patriotic spirit from which they emanated will forever sustain it.

Those who have wrought great changes in the world never succeeded by gaining over chiefs; but always by exciting the multitude. The first is the resource of intrigue and produces only secondary results, the second is the resort of genius and transforms the universe.

The government should not be guided by Temporary Excitement, but by Sober Second Thought

Martin Van Buren at Amazon

MemorableQuotations.com

Memorable Quotations:
American Presidents of the Past (Kindle Book)

Memorable Quotations:
Jewish Writers of the Past

Memorable Quotations:
Irish Writers of the Past

Memorable Quotations:
Famous Teachers of the Past

Memorable Quotations:
Philosophers of Western Civilization

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers of the Past

Memorable Quotations:
French Writers of the Past

Memorable Quotations:
English Writers of the Past

Memorable Quotations:
Massachusetts Writers of the Past

Memorable Quotations:
Humorists, Wits, and Satirists of the Past

A Saigon Party:
And Other Vietnam War Short Stories

Memories Are Like Clouds

Memorable Quotations: U.S. Presidents

Memorable Quotations: U.S. First Ladies

Books by Carol Dingle

Books by Diana Dell

Memorable Quotations: Teachers and Educators (A - H)

Memorable Quotations: Teachers and Educators (I - P)

Memorable Quotations: Teachers and Educators (Q - Z)

Memorable Quotations: Humorists, Wits, Satirists (A - H)

Memorable Quotations: Humorists, Wits, Satirists (I - P)

Memorable Quotations: Humorists, Wits, Satirists (Q - Z)

Memorable Quotations: African-American Writers

Memorable Quotations: American Democrats

Memorable Quotations: American First Ladies

Memorable Quotations: American Presidents

Memorable Quotations: American Republicans

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (A)

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (B)

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (C)

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (D - E)

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (F - G)

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (H - I)

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (J - K)

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (L - M)

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (N - O)

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (P - Q)

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (R - S)

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (T - V)

Memorable Quotations:
American Women Writers (W - Z)

Memorable Quotations:
English Writers (A - B)

Memorable Quotations:
English Writers (C - F)

Memorable Quotations:
English Writers (G - K)

Memorable Quotations:
English Writers (L - O)

Memorable Quotations:
English Writers (P - Z)

Memorable Quotations: French Writers (A - L)

Memorable Quotations: French Writers (M - Z)

Memorable Quotations: German Writers

Memorable Quotations: Germans

Memorable Quotations: Greeks

Memorable Quotations: Historians

Memorable Quotations: Irish Writers (A - L)

Memorable Quotations: Irish Writers (M - Z)

Memorable Quotations: Italian Writers

Memorable Quotations: Novelists (A - B)

Memorable Quotations: Novelists (C - E)

Memorable Quotations: Novelists (F - I)

Memorable Quotations: Novelists (J - L)

Memorable Quotations: Novelists (M - O)

Memorable Quotations: Novelists (P - R)

Memorable Quotations: Novelists (S - U)

Memorable Quotations: Novelists (V - Z)

Memorable Quotations: Philosophers (A - H)

Memorable Quotations: Philosophers (I - P)

Memorable Quotations: Philosophers (Q - Z)

Memorable Quotations: Playwrights (A - H)

Memorable Quotations: Playwrights (I - P)

Memorable Quotations: Playwrights (Q - Z)

Memorable Quotations: Poets (A - C)

Memorable Quotations: Poets (D - F)

Memorable Quotations: Poets (G - K)

Memorable Quotations: Poets (L - N)

Memorable Quotations: Poets (O - R)

Memorable Quotations: Poets (S - Z)

Memorable Quotations: Essayists (A - L)

Memorable Quotations: Essayists (M - Z)

Memorable Quotations: Existentialists

Memorable Quotations: Feminists

Memorable Quotations: Filmmakers

Memorable Quotations: Jewish Writers

Memorable Quotations: Journalists (A - L)

Memorable Quotations: Journalists (M - Z)

Memorable Quotations: Lawyers (A - L)

Memorable Quotations: Lawyers (M - Z)

Quotations by Subjects

Memorable Quotations: Reformers

Memorable Quotations: Religious Leaders

Memorable Quotations: Restoration Dramatists

Memorable Quotations: Romans

Memorable Quotations: Royalty

Memorable Quotations: Russian Writers

Memorable Quotations: Saints

Memorable Quotations: Women Writers

Memorable Quotations: Zodiac Signs

Memorable Quotations: Polish Writers

Memorable Quotations: Screenwriters

Memorable Quotations: Military Leaders

MemorableQuotations.com
http://www.memorablequotations.com