Tom Graves Quotes

If you're blessed enough to serve in public office, then you shouldn't just talk a good game about your values; you should cast your vote according to them.

As the legislature of my state has thought proper to bring my name forward without consulting me, I mean to be silent, and let the people do as seemeth unto them.

I will vote adamantly against the interests of my district if I actually think what I am doing is going to be helpful.

Morality is a test of our conformity rather than our integrity.

My conscience does not permit me to run for the presidency or any other official position unless it is within a democratic framework.

They may then be willing to cast principled votes based on an educated understanding of the public interest in the face of polls suggesting that the public itself may have quite a different understanding of where its interest lies.

A statesman, we are told, should follow public opinion. Doubtless, as a coachman follows his horses; having firm hold on the reins and guiding them.

No one should be forced to violate one's conscience, nor should anyone be forced out of service of the common good because there are some things their conscience tells them they cannot do.

When statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos.

All a man can betray is his conscience.

Good political leadership is good government. What we need is more good political leadership.

The Members of the Parliament shall be bound solely by their own conscience and not by any directions given by their electors.

A man ain't got not right to be a public man, unless he meets the public views.

I will not compromise with my conscience. I will cast my vote to protect the liberties of our people.

If I had chosen the populist course, it would have been a breach of the trust placed in me by the people.

The CDU is willing to continue to take responsibility for our country. We want to do justice to the government mandate.

When a person tries to act in accordance with his conscience, when he tries to speak the truth, when he tries to behave like a citizen, even in conditions where citizenship is degraded, it won't necessarily lead anywhere, but it might. There's one thing, however, that will never lead anywhere, and that is speculating that such behavior will lead somewhere.

I have stood up and I have represented my constituents to the best of my abilities, and I'm very proud of that.

If you want a candidate who agrees with you 100 percent of the time, I'll give you a suggestion: Go home and look in the mirror. You are the only person you agree with 100 percent of the time. You'll always know who I am, you'll always know what I believe and you'll always know where I stand.

I have no question that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that abortion in virtually all circumstances is wrong. I think the church's position at all times in modern history has been that it is unequivocally opposed to abortion.But that's not the question for a Catholic who is a public official. I happen to subscribe to the church's position as a person. Still the question, as Governor Mario Cuomo suggested, is: what is your obligation as a civic leader? I agree entirely with John F. Kennedy. I answer only to my conscience in my public life and that's that.

I just want to do what I feel is right in my heart.

In the end you should always do the right thing even if it's hard.

Conscience is doubtless sufficient to conduct the coldest character into the road of virtue; but enthusiasm is to conscience what honor is to duty; there is in us a superfluity of soul, which it is sweet to consecrate to the beautiful when the good has been accomplished.

People who don't vote have no call on political leaders!

Trust that man in nothing who has not a conscience in everything.