Quote

The second, sober thought of the people is seldom wrong, and always efficient.

Martin Van Buren

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Martin Van Buren
Age: 79 †
Born: 1782
Born: December 5
Died: 1862
Died: July 24
8Th U.S. President
Diplomat
Lawyer
Politician
Slaveholder
Statesperson
Maarten van Buren
President van Buren
M. van Buren
Van Buren
Buren
Old Kinderhook
President Van Buren
President Martin Van Buren
Always
People
Sober
Efficient
Seldom
Second
Wrong
Thought

More quotes by Martin Van Buren

Image
Most men are not scolded out of their opinion.
Martin Van Buren
Image
My conviction of the necessity of further legislative provisions for the safe-keeping and disbursement of the public moneys and my opinion in regard to the measures best adapted to the accomplishment of those objects have been already submitted to you.
Martin Van Buren
Image
We remain at peace with all nations, and no efforts on my part consistent with the preservation of our rights and the honor of the country shall be spared to maintain a position so consonant to our institutions.
Martin Van Buren
Image
There is but one reliance.
Martin Van Buren
Image
Every proper exertion has been made and will be continued to carry out the wishes of Congress in relation to the tobacco trade, as indicated in the several resolutions of the House of Representatives and the legislation of the two branches.
Martin Van Buren
Image
In time of peace there can, at all events, be no justification for the creation of a permanent debt by the Federal Government. Its limited range of constitutional duties may certainly under such circumstances be performed without such a resort.
Martin Van Buren
Image
In receiving from the people the sacred trust twice confided to my illustrious predecessor, and which he has discharged so faithfully and so well, I know that I can not expect to perform the arduous task with equal ability and success.
Martin Van Buren
Image
The United States have fulfilled in good faith all their treaty stipulations with the Indian tribes, and have in every other instance insisted upon a like performance of their obligations.
Martin Van Buren
Image
The national will is the supreme law of the Republic, and on all subjects within the limits of his constitutional powers should be faithfully obeyed by the public servant.
Martin Van Buren
Image
Is it possible to be anything in this country without being a politician?
Martin Van Buren
Image
There is a power in public opinion in this country - and I thank God for it: for it is the most honest and best of all powers - which will not tolerate an incompetent or unworthy man to hold in his weak or wicked hands the lives and fortunes of his fellow-citizens.
Martin Van Buren
Image
It seems proper, at all events, that by an early enactment similar to that of other countries the application of public money by an officer of Government to private uses should be made a felony and visited with severe and ignominious punishment.
Martin Van Buren
Image
Banks properly established and conducted are highly useful to the business of the country, and will doubtless continue to exist in the States so long as they conform to their laws and are found to be safe and beneficial.
Martin Van Buren
Image
If laws acting upon private interests can not always be avoided, they should be confined within the narrowest limits, and left wherever possible to the legislatures of the States.
Martin Van Buren
Image
The condition of the tribes which occupy the country set apart for them in the West is highly prosperous, and encourages the hope of their early civilization. They have for the most part abandoned the hunter state and turned their attention to agricultural pursuits.
Martin Van Buren
Image
I tread in the footsteps of illustrious men, whose superiors it is our happiness to believe are not found on the executive calendar of any country.
Martin Van Buren
Image
Those who have wrought great changes in the world never succeeded by gaining over chiefs but always by exciting the multitude. The first is the resource of intrigue and produces only secondary results, the second is the resort of genius and transforms the universe.
Martin Van Buren
Image
The less government interferes with private pursuits, the better for general prosperity.
Martin Van Buren
Image
The government should not be guided by Temporary Excitement, but by Sober Second Thought.
Martin Van Buren