Calvin Coolidge QUOTES

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

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 " 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

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

― Calvin Coolidge

10 " 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

11 " 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

12 " 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 , The Price of Freedom

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

― Calvin Coolidge

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

― Calvin Coolidge

15 " 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

16 " 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

17 " 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

18 " The business of America is business. "

― Calvin Coolidge

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

― Calvin Coolidge

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

― Calvin Coolidge

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