Louis Antoine de Saint-Just Quotes

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.

If they think its such a sacrifice to go into public service, then they should stay the heck out.

Any institution which does not suppose the people good, and the magistrate corruptible is evil.

Every citizen owes to the country a vigilant watch and close scrutiny of its public servants and a fair and reasonable estimate of their fidelity and usefulness.

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

The business of serving the American people is a tough, and sometimes thankless task.

The government may be made up of clever, sensible people. But if they do not believe in basic human values, the more clever or shrewd they are the greater the tragedy they will create.

There are a lot of ways to serve and only one is being president.

There are good people, who are in politics — in both parties — who hold this at arm's length, because if they acknowledge it and recognize it, then the moral imperative to make big changes is inescapable.

The Administration of Government, is nothing else but the Attendance of the Trustees of the People upon the Interest and Affairs of the People

Dishonesty in government is the business of every citizen. It is not enough to do your own job. There's no particular virtue in that. Democracy isn't a gift. It's a responsibility.

It is only when there is the supervision and critical oversight from the people that the government will be in a position to do an even better job, and employees of government departments will be the true public servants of the people.

Good government is the outcome of private virtue.

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

Ethics in government has always been important to me.

I've got the greatest job in the world. There's no other job in government where cause and effect is so tightly coupled where you can make a difference every day in so many different ways and in so many different people's lives. It's a great challenge.

During my two terms serving the good people of New Hampshire's First District, I always worked for what I call the bottom 99% of Americans, and I never forgot that public office is a public trust.

In the long-run every Government is the exact symbol of its People, with their wisdom and unwisdom; we have to say, Like People like Government.

Today we must make a pact with each other to end this reckless conduct with the people's government.

I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose interests in good government is less.

For years now I have been talking about personal responsibility and accountability, both in our private lives and in the halls of government. Those are important principles here in Idaho, and they will form the basis of this administration.

Ask not what you can do for your country; ask what your government is doing to you.

Public business … must always be done by somebody…. If wise men decline it, others will not; if honest men refuse it, others will not.

Public officers are the trustees of the people.

He has slipped the surly bonds of public service.