From The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge: It is a great advantage to a President, and a great source of safety to the country, for him to know that he is not a great man. When a man begins to feel that he is the only one who can lead in this republic, he is guilty of treason to the spirit of our institutions. It would be exceedingly easy to set the country all by the ears and foment hatreds and jealousies, which, by destroying faith and confidence, would help nobody and harm everybody. The end would be the destruction of all progress. The only way I know to drive
out evil from the country is by the constructive method of filling it with
good. The country is better off
tranquilly considering its blessings and merits, and earnestly striving to secure
more of them, than it would be in nursing hostile bitterness about its
deficiencies and faults. Perhaps one of the reasons I have been the target for so little abuse is because I have tried to refrain from abusing other people. …the more I study [the Constitution] the more I have come to
admire it, realizing that no other document devised by the hand of man ever
brought so much progress and happiness to humanity. The good it has wrought can never be
measured.
I know very well what it means to awake in the
night and realize that the rent is coming due, wondering where the money is
coming from with which to pay it. The
only way I know of escape from that constant tragedy is to keep running
expenses low enough so that something may be saved to meet the day when
earnings may be small. What was needed was a
restoration of confidence in our institutions and in each other, on which
economic progress might rest. Our productive capacity is sufficient to maintain us all in a state of prosperity if we give sufficient attention to thrift and industry. There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important, as living within your means. Wealth comes from industry and from the hard experience of human toil. To dissipate it in waste and extravagance is disloyalty to humanity. It has been my observation in life that, if
one will only exercise the patience to wait, his wants are likely to be
filled. If men do not follow the truth
they cannot live. The only hope of perfecting human relationship is in accordance with the law of service under which men are not so solicitous about what they shall get as they are about what they shall give. Yet people are entitled to the rewards of their industry. What they earn is theirs, no matter how small or how great. But the possession of property carries the obligation to use it in a larger service. Unless we live rationally we
perish, physically, mentally, and spiritually. …while I am not disposed to
minimize the amount of evil in the world I am convinced that good predominates
and that it is constantly all about us, ready for our service if only we will
accept it. The right thing to do never requires any subterfuges, it is always simple and direct. Fate bestows its rewards on those who put themselves in the proper attitude to receive them. If we keep our faith in ourselves, and what is even more important, keep our faith in regular and persistent application to hard work, we need not worry about the outcome. … expediency as a working
principle is bound to fail. People […] must depend on
themselves rather than on legislation for success. Surprisingly few men are lacking in capacity, but they fail because they are lacking in application. Either they never learn how to work, or, having learned, they are too indolent to apply themselves with the seriousness and the attention that is necessary to solve important problems. Any reward that is worth having only comes to the industrious. The success which is made in any walk of life is measured almost exactly by the amount of hard work that is put into it. Our country does not believe in idleness. It honors hard work. It is better not to press a candidacy too
much, but to let it develop on its own merits without artificial
stimulation. If the people want a man
they will nominate him, if they do not want him he had best let the nomination
go to another. There is no right to strike
against the public safety by any body, any time, any where. Nothing is more dangerous to good government than great power in improper hands. I have seen a great many attempts at political strategy in my day and elaborate plans made to encompass the destruction of this or that public man. I cannot now think of any that did not react with overwhelming force upon the perpetrators, sometimes destroying them and sometimes giving their proposed victim an opportunity to demonstrate his courage, strength and soundness, which increased his standing with the people and raised him to higher office. There is only one form of political strategy in which I have any confidence, and that is to try to do the right thing and sometimes be able to succeed. [The political mind] is a strange mixture of vanity and timidity, of an obsequious attitude at one time and a delusion of grandeur at another time, of the most selfish preferment combined with the most sacrificing patriotism. The political mind is the product of men in public life who have been twice spoiled. They have been spoiled with praise and they have been spoiled with abuse. With them nothing is natural, everything is artificial. A few rare souls escape these influences and maintain a vision and a judgment that are unimpaired. They are a great comfort to every President and a great service to their country. But they are not sufficient in number so that the public business can be transacted like a private business. 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. I shall always consider it the highest tribute to my administration that the opposition have based so little of their criticism on what I have really said and done. I have often said that there was no cause for feeling disturbed by being misrepresented in the press. It would only be when they began to say things detrimental to me which were true that I should feel alarm. In the discharge of the duties of the office there is one rule of action more important than all others. It consists in never doing anything that someone else can do for you. […] it indicates a course that should be very strictly followed in order to prevent being so devoted to trifling details that there will be little opportunity to give the necessary consideration to policies of larger importance. It was my desire to maintain about the White House as far as possible an attitude of simplicity and not engage in anything that had an air of pretentious display. That was my conception of the great office. It carries sufficient power within itself, so that it does not require any of the outward trappings of pomp and splendor for the purpose of creating an impression. It has a dignity of its own which makes it self-sufficient. Of course, there should be proper formality, and personal relations should be conducted at all times with decorum and dignity, and in accordance with the best traditions of polite society. But there is no need of theatricals. From Other Sources: America seeks no empire built
on blood and forces... she cherishes no purpose save to merit the favor of
almighty God. Inaugural address, 1925 Our constitution has raised
certain barriers against too hasty change.
I believe such provision is wise.
I doubt if there has been any change that has ever really been desired
by the people which they have not been able to secure. Stability of government is a very important
asset. If amendment is mead easy, both
revolution and reaction, as well as orderly progress, also become easy. At the dedication of the a monument to Lafayette in Baltimore, Maryland, 1924 Whether one traces his
Americanism back three centuries to the Mayflower, or three years to the
steerage, is not half so important as whether his Americanism of today is real
and genuine. Addressing the American Legion convention, Omaha, Nebraska, 1925 ...the chief business of the
American people is business. [...] [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. Addressing the American Society of Newspaper Editors, 1925 The centralization of power in
Washington, which nearly all members of Congress deplore in their speech and
then support by their votes, steadily increases. Calvin Coolidge Says, June 20, 1931 Civilization and profits go
hand in hand. Speech following election as vice president, 1920 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. Address in Philadelphia, 1924 The people know the difference
between pretense and reality. They want
to be told the truth. They want to be
trusted. They want a chance to work out
their own material and spiritual salvation.
The people want a government of common sense. Presidential nomination acceptance speech, 1924 It has always seemed to me that
common sense is the real solvent for the nation’s problems at all times——common
sense and hard work. Interview published in New York Sun, January 6, 1933 The light that first broke over
the thirteen colonies lying along the Atlantic coast was destined to illuminate
the world. Address as lieutenant governor, 1916 Don’t expect to build up the
weak by pulling down the strong. Inaugural address Do the day’s work. If it be to protect the rights of the weak,
whoever objects, do it. If it be to help
a powerful corporation to better serve the people, whatever the opposition, do
that. Expect to be called a standpatter,
but don’t be a standpatter. Expect to be
called a demagogue, but don’t be a demagogue. Inaugural address Duty is not collective, it is
personal. Let every individual make
known his determination to support law and order. That duty is supreme. Gubernatorial campaign address, 1919 One of the greatest favors that
can be bestowed upon the American people is economy in government. Recorded speech, 1924 The wise and correct course to
follow in taxation and in all other economic legislation is not to destroy
those who have already secured success, but to create conditions under which everyone
will have a chance to be successful. Inaugural address There can be no political
independence without economic independence.
Accepting the vice presidential nomination After order and liberty,
economy is one of the highest essentials of a free government. Speech in Northampton, 1923 I favor the policy of economy,
not because I wish to save money, but because I wish to save people. The men and women of this country who toil
are the ones who bear the cost of government.
Every dollar that we carelessly waste means that their life will be so
much the more meager. Every dollar that
we prudently save means that their life will be so much the more abundant. Economy is idealism in its most practical
form. Inaugural address The school is not the end but
only the beginning of an education. Yet
its place cannot be filled in any other way. Calvin Coolidge Says, September 1, 1930 The best thing the millions of
our youth can do to ensure their future success is to work faithfully at their
studies. That opportunity for
improvement and discipline will never return.
Calvin Coolidge Says, September 1, 1930 There are two things necessary
for the enrichment of life, mentally, physically, socially and
spiritually. They are very simple and
are known to all men. One is hard work
and the other is a determination to do right. Letter to H.W. Gibson, 1920 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
reaches his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is
eternally important, and that his work, well done, is part of an unending
plan. Address transmitted to delegation of Boy Scouts in New York, 1925 Ultimately nations, like
individuals, cannot depend upon each other, but must depend upon themselves. Each must work out its own salvation. Address to Congress, 1924 While we desire always to
cooperate and to help, we are equally determined to be independent and
free. Right and truth and justice and
humanitarian efforts will have the moral support of this country all over the
world. But we do not wish to become
involved in the political controversies of others. Address to Congress, 1924 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. That is the chief meaning of
freedom. speech accepting the presidential nomination The meaning of America is not
to be found in a life without toil.
Freedom is not only bought with a great price; it is maintained with
unremitting effort. Speech at Johns Hopkins University, 1922 There is no greater service
that we can render the oppressed of the earth than to maintain inviolate the
freedom of our own citizens. Speech at Tremont Temple, Boston, 1918 We review that past not in order that we return to it but that we
find in what direction, straight and clear, it points to the future. Speech in Burlington, Vermont, 1923 Government cannot relieve from
toil. It can provide no substitute for
the rewards of service. It can, of
course, care for the defective and recognize distinguished merit. The normal must care for themselves. Self-government means self-support. Inaugural address as president of the Massachusetts state senate Can we still act on the
principle that there is no sacrifice too great to maintain the right? Shall we continue to advocate and practice
thrift and industry? Shall we require
unswerving loyalty to our country? These
are the foundations of greatness. Inaugural address as governor of Massachusetts My conception of public duty is
to face each problem as though my entire record in life were to be judged by
the way I handled it——to keep always in touch with the folks back home——to be
firm for my honesty of opinion, but to recognize every man’s right to an honest
difference of opinion. Gubernatorial campaign newspaper ad, 1918 No person was every honored for
what he received; honor has been received for what he gave. Vetoing a bill to raise the salaries of Massachusetts state legislators, 1919 We must realize that human
nature is about the most constant thing in the universe and that the essentials
of human relationships do not change. We
must frequently take our bearings from these fixed stars of our political firmament
if we expect to hold a true course. Inaugural address Let justice and the economic
laws be applied to the strong, but for the weak there must be mercy and
charity; not the gratuity which pauperizes, but the assistance which
restores. That, too, is justice. Addressing the Community Chest dinner, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1921 It is more important to kill
bad bills than to pass good ones... See
that the bills you recommend from your committee are worded so that they will
do just what they intend and not a great deal more that is undesirable. Most bills can’t stand that test. Letter to his father, 1910 Don’t hurry to legislate. Inaugural address as president of the Massachusetts state senate If we are too weak to take
charge of our own morality, we shall not be strong enough to take charge of our
own liberty. Address at Arlington National Cemetery, May 30, 1925 |