Mary Moran Quotes

I’m the first to say that I’ve no idea what I’m doing. There is no manual here for how to be mayor.

There are two rules for mayors: Be there and do something.

Politicians are probably the most underrated people in our society.

In Sacramento you simply had to think about what the law ought to be and leave it to someone else to implement. In San Francisco, you hear about it the next day.

A mayor is a political leader for a city. He doesn't know anything necessarily about city administration, and furthermore he shouldn't have to.

The New Englander is attached to his township because it is strong and independent; he has an interest in it because he shares in its management; he loves it because he has no reason to complain of his lot; he invests his ambition and his future in it; in the restricted sphere within his scope, he learns to rule society; he gets to know those formalities without which freedom can advance only through revolutions, and becoming imbued with their spirit, develops a taste for order, understands the harmony of powers, and in the end accumulates clear, practical ideas about the nature of his duties and the extent of his rights.

Once you've been a mayor, you look to try to get things done.

When political and business leaders tell the public - any public - 'We don't trust you to make the right decision' - they prejudice that electorate against the very proposals they want it to accept and undermine public confidence in themselves.

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

If one of my boys was asking me if they should go into politics, I'd say there's only one reason to go into public life and that's to help people.

I don't want to run for governor, but I don't think anyone should put public service out of the question because that's not what a good citizen does.

Governments need to have both shepherds and butchers.

Whatever you may think of Mrs. Clinton as a character, I think she believes quite strongly in public service.

I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose interests in good government is less.

Public service is a noble career. You can’t do it unless you get out there and run…. You can make a difference if you are elected.

Administration is the essence of government, and its quality is a prime condition of civic comfort.

Politics is the management of expectations.

Devote that intelligent mind of yours to the problems of the state

The success of an elected official is doing what everyone knows needs to be done.

A minister of state is excusable for the harm he does when the helm of government has forced his hand in a storm; but in the calm he is guilty of all the good he does not do.

The higher classes of a nation can communicate virtue and wisdom to the government, if they themselves are virtuous and wise: but they can never give it strength; for strength always comes from below; it always proceeds from the masses

Men and not measures are, no doubt, the very life of politics. But then it is not the fashion to say so in public places.

Political authorities should lead the way and not lag behind [public opinion].

I was in civil society long before I was ever in politics or my husband was ever even elected president.

I think I would just want to say that I do view serving in government as an honor, and I do view it as a responsibility.