Salmon P. Chase Quotes

I have decided to quit as I.P.L. Chairman. It is a decision which I was pondering over for some time.

I have decided to resign totally and finally all official positions. I shall return to private life.

I always say, it's better to be asked why you're leaving, rather than when you're leaving.

To resign from the front bench is not a decision to be taken lightly.

Slow thinking has the feeling of something you do. It's deliberate.

What you know today can affect what you do tomorrow. But what you know today cannot affect what you did yesterday.

There wasn't a key moment when I knew I wanted to quit.

I take a role because it makes sense to me, rationally.

Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.

Politicians don't like to face unpleasant realities. In truth, nobody does, but as individuals, we have no choice; if we neglect to plan ahead, we are held accountable. Fail to meet your responsibilities at work, and you get fired. Ignore your car's gas gauge, and you get stranded.

When do you know it's time to say, 'OK, that's it?' That is the most difficult part of any decision like that because you don't want to throw the 'R' word out there. I've mentioned it a couple times, but not in the sense that I'm doing it. That word is very fragile. We'll see.

Once you consent to some concession, you can never cancel it and put things back the way they are.

I never do anything by chance.

If people are going to do things which have certain consequences that they would rather avoid, they should do whatever they need to avoid the consequences.

I am kind of being a little selective in what I do, so it takes a little bit longer, but it's worth it in the end.

The mark of a good action is that it appears inevitable in retrospect.

Our principles are the springs of our actions. Our actions, the springs of our happiness or misery. Too much care, therefore, cannot be taken in forming our principles.

In real life, if I were firing you, I'd tell you what a great job you did, how fantastic you are, and how you can do better someplace else. If somebody steals, that's different, but generally speaking, you want to let them down as lightly as possible. It's not a very pleasant thing. I don't like firing people.

No plan can prevent a stupid person from doing the wrong thing in the wrong place at the wrong time - but a good plan should keep a concentration from forming.

They decided that unpaid leave could only be granted through the decision of a council that consisted almost entirely of scientists who couldn't understand my reasons for wanting to go so. They said no, no unpaid. So I immediately resigned.

Fully consider the future and the immediate results of all undertakings, and the good and bad sides of all past actions.

Affairs are easier of entrance than of exit. It is but common prudence to see the way out before we venture in.

We should not get ourselves committed until we know how everything will come out.

The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour

If you fire him, you get two for the price of one.