57 Quotes & Sayings By Calvin Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge was the 30th U.S. president, serving from 1923 to 1929. He was born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont on July 4, 1872. He was named Calvin because his mother wanted him to be a lawyer, not an evangelist or a poet Read more

When he was 16 years old, he was sent to study at Amherst College in Massachusetts. After finishing his education at Amherst, he enrolled in the law school at the University of Vermont. After two years of study there, he moved to Northampton, Massachusetts and worked as a lawyer for more than twenty years.

For about sixteen months of each year he was on the road doing legal work. On June 2, 1921, Calvin went for a walk in the woods near his summer home. A little after 10 p.m., while walking along a path that led into the woods towards his home, Calvin collapsed and died within minutes.

When he became President of the United States the next year, his father said that "I know my boy is dead."

1
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
2
It takes a great man to be a good listener. Calvin Coolidge
3
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
4
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...
5
If we judge ourselves only by our aspirations and everyone else only their conduct we shall soon reach a very false conclusion. Calvin Coolidge
6
The world is full of educated derelicts Calvin Coolidge
7
..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
8
The Business of Our Firm is Business"-Donald W. Hudspeth from:" The Business of America is Business"-Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge
9
It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones. Calvin Coolidge
10
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
11
This country would not be a land of opportunity, America could not be America, if the people were shackled with government monopolies. Calvin Coolidge
12
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
13
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
14
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
15
You don't have to explain something you haven't said. Calvin Coolidge
16
Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshipped. Calvin Coolidge
17
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
18
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. Calvin Coolidge
19
To the American People: Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things, there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world. Presidential message, December 25, 1927 Calvin Coolidge
20
No man ever listened himself out of a job. Calvin Coolidge
21
The business of America is business. Calvin Coolidge
22
I do not choose to run for President in 1928. Calvin Coolidge
23
It would be folly to argue that the people cannot make political mistakes. They can and do make grave mistakes. They know it they pay the penalty but compared with the mistakes which have been made by every kind of autocracy they are unimportant. Calvin Coolidge
24
After order and liberty economy is one of the highest essentials of a free government.... Economy is always a guarantee of peace. Calvin Coolidge
25
No person was ever honoured for what he received. Honour has been the reward for what he gave. Calvin Coolidge
26
Those who trust to chance must abide by the results of chance. Calvin Coolidge
27
One with the law is a majority. Calvin Coolidge
28
We cannot do everything at once but we can do something at once. Calvin Coolidge
29
There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody anywhere anytime. Calvin Coolidge
30
Nothing in the world can take place of persistence. Talent will not nothing is more common than unsuccessful individuals 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. Calvin Coolidge
31
I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm. Calvin Coolidge
32
If you don't say anything you won't be called on to repeat it. Calvin Coolidge
33
The presidency does not yield to definition. Like the glory of a morning sunrise it can be experienced - it can not be told. Calvin Coolidge
34
I think the American public wants a solemn ass as a president and I think I'll go along with them. Calvin Coolidge
35
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
36
When more and more people are thrown out of work unemployment results. Calvin Coolidge
37
If you see ten troubles coming down the road you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you. Calvin Coolidge
38
It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow. Calvin Coolidge
39
Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business. Calvin Coolidge
40
Little progress can be made by merely attempting to repress what is evil. Our great hope lies in developing what is good. Calvin Coolidge
41
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
42
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. Calvin Coolidge
43
All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work. Calvin Coolidge
44
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
45
When a great many people are unable to find work, unemployment results. Calvin Coolidge
46
When more and more people are thrown out of work, unemployment results. Calvin Coolidge
47
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
48
Don't expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong. Calvin Coolidge
49
There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no one independence quite so important, as living within your means. Calvin Coolidge
50
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
51
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
52
Patriotism is easy to understand in America. It means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country. Calvin Coolidge
53
I have never been hurt by what I have not said. Calvin Coolidge
54
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
55
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
56
Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery. Calvin Coolidge