Estelle Morris Quotes

Our great Constitution challenges us to grow constantly.

All I wanted was to be involved in politics and government.

The first lesson in civics is that efficient government begins at home.

My task as a citizen is to get the government to do more good and less inefficient and wasteful work.

There are a lot of ways to serve and only one is being president.

I know it may be hard to imagine given how broken and gridlocked our politics truly are, but from the White House to, yes, Congress, the government is filled with hard-working, idealistic public servants working incredibly hard on tough issues, trying to make people's lives better and move the country, and our world, forward.

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.

When I originally went into government early in my career, it was because I was interested in finding ways to help people by finding policy solutions that would help people. And what's amazing about Facebook is that we're able to use our platform to help people, too.

The era of big government is over, but the era of big challenge is not. We need an era of big citizenship. There are many important people at this summit, but the most important title is 'citizen.' This is our republic. Let us keep it!

The government is us; WE are the government, you and I."- Theodore Roosevelt

Any participation, even in the smallest public function, is useful.

If you're in government, the right thing to do is be focused on solving real problems and asking what's the best solution to a particular problem.

Good ideas are the backbone of good government.

I am proud to represent people who care so deeply about their communities. Their perseverance and strength only motivates me more as their representative in Congress.

I don't want to come to Washington to be just another vote. I want to lead on issues that are important.

I have a lifelong devotion to public service.

I believe we need to attract a new generation of the best and brightest to public service and I believe that government can be a source of inspiration, not degradation.

Since 9/11, there has been a huge leap in people wanting to get personally involved in public service and international affairs.

I think we should just tip the government if it does a good job. Fifteen percent is the standard tip, isn't it?

Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges of free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful in our national heritage.

My function in life is not to be a politician in Parliament: it is to get something done.

I am an ambitious person, but I am not ambitious in the sense that I want jobs only for the sake of them... I am here to do things I think are worthwhile. I am always careful that the political positions I take are consistent with good policy. I would not want to be prime minister of Australia at any price.

Let's put aside the politics and trust the people. Let's embrace the unique opportunity we all have; take the heat and make the hard and difficult decisions, knowing that we're doing it to make things better for the people of Illinois.

Every day, all of us at Gannett are given the rare and sacred opportunity to affect change for the good in the communities we serve, to make life better for the people who trust us to know them and do right by them.

There are a lot of good causes out there, but they can't possibly all be served by government.