Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933,) fully John Calvin Coolidge, was an American Republican statesman who served as the 13th U.S. president 1923–29. His administration is remembered mainly for establishing minimal government interference in business and commerce, summarized by his expression, “the business of America is business.” Although he presided over a decade of unparalleled growth, his term has become emblematic of the self-satisfied conservatism that helped precipitate the Great Depression.
Born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, Coolidge first practiced law in Northampton, Massachusetts. He entered state politics as a Republican, was mayor of Northampton (1910–11,) state senator (1912–15,) state lieutenant governor (1919–21,) and governor (1919–20.) He gained national celebrity through a tough stand against a Boston police strike in 1919.
Elected vice president with Warren G. Harding, he succeeded to the presidency after Harding’s death (1923) and easily won a full term in 1924. Pro-business policies marked Coolidge’s administration. He committed to reducing income taxes and the national debt and was noted for his guiding principle of non-interference in foreign affairs, which culminated in the signing of the multilateral Kellogg-Briand Treaty of 1928. His policies encouraged the reckless stock market speculation of the late 1920s.
Coolidge announced his decision not to stand for re-election in 1928 with a terse announcement that has since become a catchphrase: “I do not choose to run.” He spent the later years of his life writing his Autobiography (1929) and contributing articles to newspapers and magazines.
Coolidge destroyed most of his private papers and remains enigmatic in essential ways. Although highly popular, he is known as a reserved and distant man.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Calvin Coolidge
No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.
—Calvin Coolidge
If you don’t say anything, you won’t be called on to repeat it.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Silence
Ultimately property rights and personal rights are the same thing.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Property
Under our institutions the only way to perfect the Government is to perfect the individual citizen. It is necessary to reach the mind and soul of the individual. I know of no way that this can be done save through the influence of religion and education. By religion I do not mean fanaticism or bigotry; by education I do not mean the cant of the schools, but a broad and tolerant faith, loving thy neighbor as thyself, and a training and experience that enables the human mind to see into the heart of things.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Religion
If I had permitted my failures, or what seemed to me at the time a lack of success, to discourage me I cannot see any way in which I would ever have made progress.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Progress, Failure
After order and liberty, economy is one of the highest essentials of a free government…. Economy is always a guarantee of peace.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Economy
I guess I am not naturally energetic. I like to sit around and talk.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Energy
To live under the American Constitution is the greatest political privilege that was ever accorded to the human race.
—Calvin Coolidge
Changing a college curriculum is like moving a graveyard—you never know how many friends the dead have until you try to move them!
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Education
Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Christmas
Nothing is easier than spending the public money. It does not appear to belong to anybody. The temptation is overwhelming to bestow it on somebody.
—Calvin Coolidge
When a great many people are unable to find work, unemployment results.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Work
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan, ‘press on’ has solved, and always will solve, the problems of the human race.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Education, Perseverance, Persistence, Resolve, Determination, Talent, Endurance, Success, Action
Parties do not maintain themselves. They are maintained by effort. The government is not self-existent. It is maintained by the effort of those who believe in it. The people of America believe in American institutions, the American form of government and the American method of transacting business.
—Calvin Coolidge
Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Patriotism
There is no force so democratic as the force of an ideal.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Ideals, Idealism
Advertising ministers to the spiritual side of trade.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Advertising
I favor the policy of economy, not because I wish to save money, but because I wish to save people. The men and women of this country who toil are the ones who bear the cost of the Government. Every dollar that we carelessly waste means that their life will be so much the more meager. Every dollar that we prudently save means that their life will be so much the more abundant. Economy is idealism in its most practical form.
—Calvin Coolidge
Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. It may not be difficult to store up in the mind a vast quantity of facts within a comparatively short time, but the ability to form judgments requires the severe discipline of hard work and the tempering heat of experience and maturity.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Wisdom
I sometimes wish that people would put a little more emphasis on the observance of the law than they do upon its enforcement.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Law, Lawyers
When people are bewildered they tend to become credulous.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Belief
All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work. Work is not a curse; it is the prerogative of intelligence, the only means to manhood, and the measure of civilization.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Growth, Work
Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Heroes, Heroism, Heroes/Heroism
They criticize me for harping on the obvious – If all the folks in the United States would do the few simple things they know they ought to do, most of our big problems would take care of themselves
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Criticism
No nation ever had an army large enough to guarantee it against attack in time of peace or insure it victory in time of war.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Nation
The collection of any taxes which are not absolutely required, which do not beyond reasonable doubt contribute to the public welfare, is only a species of legalized larceny. Under this republic the rewards of industry belong to those who earn them. The only constitutional tax is the tax which ministers to public necessity. The property of the country belongs to the people of the country. Their title is absolute. They do not support any privileged class; they do not need to maintain great military forces; they ought not to be burdened with a great array of public employees. They are not required to make any contribution to Government expenditures except that which they voluntarily assess upon themselves through the action of their own representatives. Whenever taxes become burdensome a remedy can be applied by the people; but if they do not act for themselves, no one can be very successful in acting for them.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Taxation
If we judge ourselves only by our aspirations and everyone else only by their conduct, we shall soon reach a very false conclusion.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Criticism
No enterprise can exist for itself alone. It ministers to some great need, it performs some great service, not for itself, but for others; or failing therein, it ceases to be profitable and ceases to exist.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Service, Business
Our doctrine of equality and liberty and humanity comes from our belief in the brotherhood of man, through the fatherhood of God.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Humanity
Dream what you dare to dream. Go where you want to go. Be what you want to be.
—Calvin Coolidge
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