Charles Hamilton Houston Quotes

I decided to run for governor because I got mad... I want to make government more directly accountable to the people.

I think we need politicians; we need people who want to serve.

Politicians must be simple and clear about how their ideas will serve the national cause. We can no longer use the complexity of today's problems as an excuse for inaction, rhyme or rhetoric that does not meet the challenges before us.

No high qualities of statesmanship are expected from a Congressman.

While not all politicians are statesmen, all statesmen are politicians.

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.

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

If you're governor of a state, and you have nothing to say when the president attacks the people that you represent, you are complicit.

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.

There's a truth about public service that is often unspoken and rarely understood - that the role of our elected officials is about much more than balancing budgets and ensuring the delivery of essential services.

In short, that politicians do or don't have families should no longer have any bearing on their abilities to hold office or to care more or less about the future of the country.

I think we can do better with our politicians. I think I'd make a good one, because I like people.

I believe a democracy needs men and women of conviction in its positions of leadership in order for us to succeed. That's the subject of 'A Perfect Candidate,' a film I made 20 years ago about Oliver North and Charles Robb.

People deserve to see a governor who is hustling every day.

You have a responsibility as a locally elected deputy, but you also have a responsibility as the head of government.

I'm not in the business of satisfying everybody. I'm in the business of trying to satisfy the people who elected me governor.

We're going to make sure that the people who run for office and get elected are the ones who are going to work for the American people.

The president cannot escape from his office.

One of the reasons I'm in this business is because I have absolute respect for the people who say, "You know what? I think I can make this a little better and I'm willing to get in and try." Because, I'll tell you, there are a hell of a lot of reasons to stay away from running for office today.

The phrase public office is a public trust, has of last become common property.

In the highest government office, you have to be ready to bow out at any time, otherwise you are not a free individual anymore.

The best state is that in which bad men are not allowed to hold office, and good men are not allowed to refuse office.

I honestly believe I'd make one of the worst elected officials in the history of this country.

Being President is like the man who was tarred and feathered and ridden out of town on a rail... A man in the crowd asked how he liked it, and his reply was that if it wasn't for the honor of the thing, he would much rather walk.

I also think it's important for us to hold our elected officials accountable and part of how you do that is simple, call them and let them know when you agree or disagree with what their decisions are and suggest how they should come out on certain legislation that important to you.