Alan Greenspan Quotes

If it took multiple debt ceiling hikes, I'd rather achieve the savings.

What matters to me is that I do what I think is right and I see, I'm a numbers guy, that's my attitude. I know we have a debt tsunami coming, we are bankrupting this country and I'm in a position where I can actually advance ideas to prevent that from happening. That's exactly what I should be doing.

I look at this in a very simple way: I want to bring the debt down.

I found this national debt, doubled, wrapped in a big bow waiting for me as I stepped into the Oval Office.

Right now the problem in Thailand is we have high debt, but we don't know how to earn the new source of revenue back to Thailand. This is my job.

It's insane to try to balance the budget.

If you don't get spending under control, eventually you're going to have a big tax increase.

We believed it was better to pay as you go than it was to pay your bills by borrowing and laying up debts for another day. To pay as you go, that policy is a safer business policy and a saner business policy, and we thought it was a saner national policy.

There was no avoiding the fact that we were going to hit our debt ceiling.

Most of the major increases in the debt ceiling have been accompanied by structural changes in the way we raise and spend money.

Deficits aren't always bad if you invest the money.

A provision for the sale of the vacant lands of the United States is particularly urged, among other reasons, by the important considerations that they are pledged as a fund for reimbursing the public debt; that if timely and judiciously applied they may save the necessity of burdening our citizens with new taxes for the extinguishment of the principal; and that being free to discharge the principal but in a limited proportion, no opportunity ought to be lost for availing the public of its right.

The reason we vote on the debt ceiling is to pay for past spending. It has nothing to do with what we are going to spend. What you are really saying is “I’m sorry, I am so mad that I don’t want to pay my past debts.”

I've made a payroll. I know what it's like to execute a business plan. I know what it's like to expect the proper return on investment... and I know you can't spend your way out of debt.

We have to deal with the nation's debt.

While I'd like to be able to simply do all of my financings with a handshake or, possibly, on a napkin written in crayon, I also wish I had a herd of unicorns surrounded by rainbows, a balanced U.S. government budget, and agreement on how to address the debt ceiling issue.

There are only two honest ways to reduce our debt: cut spending or raise revenues.

You have to tackle the real drivers of debt - that's mandatory spending, not discretionary.

Congress must do what we said we would and find ways to pay for bills we propose so we don't leave future generations mired in debt.

My pan plays down an unprecedented amount of our national debt.

[S]ound policy condemns the practice of accumulating debts.

I think if we give Glenn Beck the numbers, he can solve this [the national debt].

Everyone has a budget, I don't care who you are.

Of course, there's been a real debate about where to invest and where to cut, and I'm committed to working with members of both parties to cut our deficits and debt. But we can't simply cut our way to prosperity.

I regret, as much as any member, the unavoidable weight and duration of the burdens to be imposed; having never been a proselyte to the doctrine, that public debts are public benefits. I consider them, on the contrary, as evils which ought to be removed as fast as honor and justice will permit.