Theodore Roosevelt Quotes

Two truths are all too often overshadowed in today's political discourse: Public service is a most honorable pursuit, and so is bipartisanship.

I loved being Secretary of State, that's probably evident to everyone who watched me.

We want to bring back to Washington people who are more interested in public service than they are in private gain.

Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the trust and trustees are created for the benefit of the public.

Public officers are the trustees of the people.

The trust that goes with public service is a heavy burden on those who would lead us.

While not all politicians are statesmen, all statesmen are politicians.

When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.

One of the nice things about no longer being Secretary of State is that I can actually answer your questions.

I freely acknowledge myself the servant of the people, according to the bond of service -- the United States Constitution; and that, as such, I am responsible to them.

Politics is a profession; a serious, complicated and, in a true sense, a noble one.

In a country where offices are created solely for the benefit of the people no one man has any more intrinsic right to official station than another. Offices were not established to give support to particular men at the public expense. No individual wrong is, therefore, done by removal, since neither appointment to nor continuance in office is a matter of right.

I think I will serve as secretary of state as my last public position.

I'm a public servant. And I work for the American people.

If I could have anything right now, it would be the ability to continue as secretary of state.

I didn't serve on a committee that dealt with foreign policy.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great sadness that I announce that I will resign as Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs. I am sad because I love this job. I'm totally dedicated to the work that we are doing in Australia's name around the world, and I believe that we have achieved many good results for Australia, and I'm proud of them.

I believe that government is the servant of the people and not their master.

I would regard it as a great misfortune to run for Mayor and still more to be elected.

It’s hard to have a better job than the government, where you really do have an opportunity to have a broad reaching impact. Very few private sector jobs are going to offer you that.

The Secretary of State has always stood as much alone as the historian. Required to look far ahead and around him, he measures forces unknown to party managers, and has found Congress more or less hostile since Congress first sat.

Those who are selected for a limited time to manage public affairs are still of the people, and may do much by their example to encourage, consistently with the dignity of their official functions, that plain way of life which among their fellow-citizens aids integrity and promotes thrift and prosperity.

It does take courage to be in public life.

The only problem with running for office is, once you are elected you have to serve.

If you accept the privilege of public service, you had better understand the responsibilities of public service.