Jon Kyl Quotes

In the spring of 1994 I decided not to seek reelection to the Senate. I had made the decision 12 years earlier, Christmas Day of 1982, just after I had been first elected to a full term, that I would do the best I could for a limited time.

I have been immeasurably honored to serve the people of Maine for nearly 40 years in public office and for the past 17 years in the United States Senate. It was incredibly difficult to decide that I would not seek a fourth term in the Senate.

I am very proud of my public record and the many accomplishments of my office. It has been a tremendous honor to represent the 6th District of Texas for over three decades, but now it is time to step aside and let there be a new voice.

I don't want to spend the rest of my life in politics. When I'm finished with my term as governor, I'm going back to the life that's waiting for me in the private sector.

Elective office and public service are obviously something that have long ties with my family, and something I'm definitely interested in.

I have no intention of running for office again.

People who assume I want to run for elected office may be dealing from a bad assumption.

It is never a perfect time or a right time to step aside. But for me, this is the time. I want to share with you my decision that I will not be a candidate for any office in November of 2014.

I don't want to become Washington.

I want to be Eric Cantor's term limit.

I'm not sure I make old bones in parliament. It's an amazing experience to have had but I can't see myself being Mother of the House.

Serving in the United States Senate has been the greatest privilege of my life.

There is kind of a typical experience as a premier. You go in, you win a couple, you get out. Go serve on boards, take your head out of the political ringer and take on a much more private life.

I've been complimented enough and asked to run for various offices out here in Utah, but right now, I'm not interested. I don't know that I have the stomach for it.

Public men rarely keep their promises to retire from public life.

I would rather have a full term in the Senate—a place in which I would feel more consciously able to discharge the duties required, and where there is more chance to make a reputation, and less danger of losing it than four years of the presidency.

You wouldn’t need term limits if these [political] jobs don’t pay anything.

I may be leaving the Senate, but the next chapter in my public service is just beginning.

When you are a politician, it means to work for the benefit of the country, not to stay home. In politics, it ends only when one dies.

I have absolutely no interest in running for president again. None. None. I mean, I know that's hard for some people to believe, but, you know, I just don't.

Washington was a swamp. It was not somewhere that they believed people would want to go, so the idea was that people got involved as a public service, not to make a career out of it.

I've decided to get into active politics on Narendra Modiji's request. I don't know how successful I will be, but I'll give it my best shot.

I will make the final decision on running for governor after my congressional term ends.

I just didn't have the desire to run for political office. There are other things that I like to do, and it just wasn't my choice. But if it had been my choice, I certainly would have done it.

I haven't ruled out another run for office at some point.