Barbara Jordan Quotes

If you accept the privilege of public service, you had better understand the responsibilities of public service.

Never mind your happiness; do your duty.

I think that anything that has privileges have responsibility and all people that is clear about their responsibility has compromise.

You don't ever earn a right to stop doing anything if you feel there is an obligation to move in terms of public service.

If you make the choice to serve the public, public service, then serve the public, not yourself.

If someone as blessed as I am is not willing to clean out the barn, who will?

England expects that every man will do his duty.

Our people expect the best of us. They send us to take care of the people's business, and those of us who take hold of that responsibility understand that's what it's really about.

I don't see myself being special; I just see myself having more responsibilities than the next man. People look to me to do things for them, to have answers.

I didn't volunteer; they asked me. I felt a duty to testify.

Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires but according to our powers.

It is our responsibilities, not ourselves, that we should take seriously.

You have to step up when your number is called.

May the spirit of devotion to duty which inspires us always dominate this Committee's conferences!

It's been a great privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania.

To whom much is given, much is required - not expected, but required.

For 25 years, I did take my responsibilities as a pleaser of others sufficiently seriously.

Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.

There is no entitlement without a duty.

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

I have an obligation to the people of Illinois, to the Senate and to myself to leave the Senate while I am still eager to serve, not after I tire of serving.

I promise you that during my life, I was more concerned about not letting people down, about doing my part, than I was ever into what it did for me.

I believe very, very strongly that when you serve, you serve the entire state.

When you serve, whether it's here in the House or in the White House or anywhere else, it's a distinct honor and privilege and so that's about the extent of it.

I pledge to dedicate everything I have to working for Japan and for the people.