Calvin Coolidge Quotes

There is no surer road to destruction than prosperity without character.

I mentioned the other day that any reports about what I was going to do when I finished being President were made entirely without consultation with me. I forgot to mention one report that is going around. I mention it now because I don’t want to be accused of acquiring property under false pretenses. I am having sent to me quite a number of jackknives. I don’t recall that I ever made any suggestion that after I finished my term of office I was going to engage in the occupation of whittling. I did some when I was a boy. I haven’t applied myself to that for a good many years. I hesitate to spoil anything like a good newspaper story, but, as I say, I don’t want to keep getting jackknives under false pretenses.

Perseverenta si determinarea sunt atotputernice.

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.

Không gì trên thế giới có thể thay thế sự kiên trì. Tài năng cũng không phải; bởi ngày nay việc người có tài nhưng không thành đạt đã trở nên quá phổ biến. Thiên tài lại càng không; hình ảnh thiên tài ẩn giấu đã trở thành câu ngạn ngữ ngày nay. Có học vấn cũng không thể, thế giới tràn ngập những người có học bị lãng quên. Chỉ riêng sự kiên trì và quyết tâm mới có tác dụng lớn.

The people who start to elect a man to get what he can for his district will probably find they have elected a man who will get what he can for himself.

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

The measure of success is not merchandise but character.

Civilization depends not only upon the knowledge of the people, but upon the use they make of it. If knowledge be wrongfully used, civilization commits suicide. Broadly speaking, the college is not to educate the individual, but to educate society. The individual may be ignorant and vicious. If society have learning and virtue, that will sustain him. If society lacks learning and virtue, it perishes. Education must give not only power but direction. It must minister to the whole man or it fails.

So far as each individual is concerned all he can do is to take the abilities he has and make the most of them. His power over the past is gone. His power over the future depends on what he does with himself in the present. If he wishes to live and progress he must work.

If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you.

I had a heart attack for dinner

Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been the minding of my own business.