Bernadette Devlin Quotes

I've found my sweet spot here in public service.

I wasn't planning on becoming a politician. I was incredibly fulfilled in my role at PATH.

We accept the world in order to change it. If you do not accept, then what are you going to change?

I've also said you don't rule any options out, because if you are in public life because you want to make a difference... obviously, you have to be open to those kind of possibilities.

I believe if a private citizen is able to affect public opinion in a constructive way he doesn't have to be an elected public servant to perform a public service.

What drives people to public service is a sense of possibility. If you haven't sensed that possibility you don't get started in the same way, you don't feel you can have an impact.

America somehow thinks that leadership relates to governance, and it certainly does. But society is much bigger than governance, and some of the truly great leadership of our society is outside the governance arena.

My ministry's always been one of social activism. I think a responsible minister must be at some levels involved in the social order.

Being an activist is about getting things done. It's not about standing around shaking your fist in anger.

Our calling is not just within the walls of the congregation, but we are part of the life and community in which our condition resides.

Politics was my third act. But I could have a fourth. I don't know what that will be yet, but there will be one.

For most young Americans I know, 'serving' in the broadest sense now seems like the only thing to do.

I challenge a new generation of young Americans to a season of service.

I went to Massachusetts to make a difference. I didn't go there to begin a political career running time and time again. I made a difference. I put in place the things I wanted to do.

I like to think I am a serious legislator and trying to get things done. That's my goal in life, to get things done.

Civic participation over a lifetime, working in neighborhoods and communities and service of all kinds - military and civilian, full-time and part-time, national and international - will strengthen America's civic purpose.

Innovators reimagine our world in so many areas. We need them to help reimagine what government can and should be.

Whatever shape my future service takes, I look forward to doing my part to help get our country back on track.

This might be a conceit of government officials, but there's the idea that maybe you can make a difference. It's a conceit. Maybe it's unhealthy. We all believed we could make a difference.

Throughout my life, I've always believed that the sole purpose of public service is to improve the lives of the people around us. From the Freeport Town Council to serving as Speaker of the State House, I've kept that sense of purpose close to my heart - consistently and passionately asking myself how we make progress.

The goal of Can't Do Nothing is to ask people, what matters for you? And whatever it is, what are you doing about it? How bad does it need to get before you take action?

I am a person who cares deeply about what is happening in the country, and for me, in most ways since getting out of the service, at least, politics has been the way in which I see myself best serving and trying to make things better.

It doesn't matter how strong your opinions are. If you don't use your power for positive change, you are, indeed, part of the problem.

Having seen my mom in community volunteer work my whole life and in Congress for 25 years, it is true as she often says that she sees her service as an extension of her role as a mother and a grandmother.

My mom raised me with the idea of doing public service, and I definitely want to go in that direction. But I also want to follow in my dad's entrepreneurial footsteps.