Abraham Lincoln Quotes

When you sign your name on the dotted line, it's more than just playing baseball. You have a responsibility to make good decisions and show people how things are supposed to be done.

I want to tell you ladies and gentlemen, the actions that we took were not always easy. The actions that we took were not always popular. But when you get yourself in public office, you must lead, you must do what's necessary.

We were elected to lead and sometimes we just have to do the right thing.

There are a lot of smart people in politics and government, but character matters ... it is terribly important that the two be melded.

Performance of duty and observance of morality are convertible terms.

In executing the duties of my present important station, I can promise nothing but purity of intentions, and, in carrying these into effect, fidelity and diligence.

If my acceptance of the office of Governor would serve my country, though my administration would be attended with the loss of personal credit and reputation, I would cheerfully undertake it.

What I'm guilty of is trying the hardest and giving 100 percent of myself and putting my heart and soul into representing the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn.

I did not become president to be popular. To work, to lead, to protect and preserve our country, our people, that is why I became president.

My father was a Tuskegee Airmen captain in the Air Force and a very strong personality. He believed in fairness and ethics and living up to the commitments you make to others. He ultimately became a judge, and he would talk to me over and over about how important it is to be fair.

I was immature the way I handled the business. I saw myself as a tribune of the people.

I came into office to do what was correct, not to see what was politically expedient to get re-elected.

If I was President of the United States, I'd rather be right than interesting. If I was CEO of a company, I'd rather be right than interesting. But I'm a journalist - what journalist would rather be right than interesting?

Ambition, in a private man is a vice, is in a prince the virtue.

I think leadership is more than just being able to cross the t's and dot the i's. It's about character and integrity and work ethic.

In Minnesota, we hold our leaders to a higher standard. We demand that the men and women we send to Washington stand above reproach and steer clear of the web of corruption, kickbacks and special favors.

My focus is on my constituents.

And for the team, I always tried to do the right thing.

Politics is about putting yourself in a state of grace.

There are, believe it or not, good politicians.

Leaders are people who do the right thing; managers are people who do things right.

There are things a man must not do to save a nation.

I never did, or countenanced, in public life, a single act inconsistent with the strictest good faith; having never believed there was one code of morality for a public, and another for a private man.

Politics is about accountability, it is about leadership, it is about courage.

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