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
It takes a great man to be a good listener.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Listening
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
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
What we need in appointive positions are men of knowledge and experience with sufficient character to resist temptations.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Politics
Look well to the hearthstone; therein all hope for America lies.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Home
The danger to America is not in the direction of the failure to maintain its economic position, but in the direction of the failure to maintain its ideals.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Ideals
Inflation is repudiation.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Economy
Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Taxes
The appropriation of public money always is perfectly lovely until some one is asked to pay the bill. If we are to have a billion dollars of navy, half a billion of farm relief, etc. the people will have to furnish more revenue by paying more taxes. It is for them, through their Congress, to decide how far they wish to go.
—Calvin Coolidge
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
As we turn through the pages of the press and the periodicals, as we catch the flash of billboards along the railroads and the highways, all of which have become enormous vehicles of the advertising art, I doubt if we realize at all the impressive part that these displays are coming more and more to play in modern life…
We see that basically it is that of education…It makes new thoughts, new desires, new actions…Rightfully applied, it is the method by which desire is created for better things. Desire, in turn, is the crucial element separating the civilized from the uncivilized. The uncivilized make little progress because they have few desires. The inhabitants of our country are stimulated to new wants in all directions. In order to satisfy their constantly increasing desires, they necessarily expand their productive powers. They create more wealth because it is only by that method that they can satisfy their wants. It is this constantly enlarging circle that represents the increasing circle of civilization.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Advertising
The business of America is business and the chief ideal of the American people is idealism.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Business, America
We do not need more of the things that are seen, we need more of the things that are unseen.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Vision, Prophecy
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
Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Patriotism
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
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
The right thing to do never requires any subterfuge, it is always simple and direct.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Duty
If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you and you have to battle with only one of them.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Trials, Justice, Worry, Trouble
It is necessary to have party organization if we are to have effective and efficient government. The only difference between a mob and a trained army is organization, and the only difference between a disorganized country and one that has the advantage of a wise and sound government is fundamentally a question of organization.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Organization
Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Heroism, Heroes/Heroism, Heroes
Governments are necessarily continuing concerns. They have to keep going in good times and in bad. They therefore need a wide margin of safety. If taxes and debt are made all the people can bear when times are good, there will be certain disaster when times are bad.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Government
Prosperity cannot be divorced from humanity.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Prosperity
The two great political parties of the nation have existed for the purpose, each in accordance with its own principles, of undertaking to serve the interests of the whole nation. Their members of the Congress are chosen with that great end in view.
—Calvin Coolidge
I have found it advisable not to give too much heed to what people say when I am trying to accomplish something of consequence. Invariably they proclaim it can’t be done. I deem that the very best time to make the effort.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Critics, Criticism
No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.
—Calvin Coolidge
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
Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Presidency
Ultimately property rights and personal rights are the same thing.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Property
When people are bewildered they tend to become credulous.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Belief
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: Resolve, Education, Success, Determination, Talent, Endurance, Action, Perseverance, Persistence
Advertising is the life of trade.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Advertising
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
It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Religion
The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.
—Calvin Coolidge
Economy is the method by which we prepare today to afford the improvements of tomorrow
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Economy
The strength of a country is the strength of its religious convictions.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Religion
After all, the chief business of the American people is business.
—Calvin Coolidge
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
No one every listened themselves out of a job.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Listening
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