Margaret Chase Smith famous quotes

03-30-2025

My creed is that public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation with full recognition that every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration, that constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought, that smears are not only to be expected but fought, that honor is to be earned, not bought.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Jobs #Dedication #People
Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism, are all too frequently those who . . . ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism-the right to criticize, the right to hold unpopular beliefs, the right to protest, the right of independent thought.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Independent #Criticism #Principles
When people keep telling you that you can't do a thing, you kind of like to try it.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Encouragement #People #Trying
The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Happiness #Courage #Integrity
Public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Jobs #Dedication #People
Every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration. Constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Expectations #Criticism #Courtesy
And this I do believe above all, especially in times of greater discouragement, that I must BELIEVE-that I must believe in my fellow people-that I must believe in myself-that I must believe in God-if life is to have any meaning.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Believe #People #Belief
I do not want to see the Republican party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny-fear, ignorance, bigotry and smear.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Fear #Party #Ignorance
The right to criticize: the right to hold unpopular beliefs; the right to protest; the right of independent thought. The exercise of these rights should not cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood... Otherwise none of us could call our souls our own.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Religious #Independent #Exercise
One of the basic causes for all the trouble in the world today is that people talk too much and think too little. They act impulsively without thinking. I always try to think before I talk.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Respect #Thinking #People
The American people are sick and tired of being afraid to speak their minds lest they be politically smeared as 'Communists' or 'Fascists' by their opponents. Freedom of speech is not what it used to be in America. It has been so abused by some that it is not exercised by others.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Tired #America #People
I always try to think before I talk.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Thinking #Trying
As long as there are big corporations, there will be big unions. The economic power of big business will be matched by the economic power of the big unions.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Long #Unions #Corporations
Smears are not only to be expected but fought. Honor is to be earned, not bought.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Honor #Expected
Strength, the American way, is not manifested by threats of criminal prosecution or police state methods.Leadership is not manifested by coercion, even against the resented. Greatness is not manifested by unlimited pragmatism, which places such a high premium on the end justifying any means and any methods.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Mean #Greatness #Police
The key to security is public information.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Keys #Information #Security
We should not permit tolerance to degenerate into indifference.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Tolerance #Degenerates #Indifference
Freedom unexercised may become freedom forfeited.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Freedom #May
The Senate has been debased to the level of a forum of hate and character assassination sheltered by the shield of congressional immunity.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Hate #Character #Presidential
My basic rule is to speak slowly and simply so that my audience has an opportunity to follow and think about what I am saying.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Communication #Opportunity #Thinking
Greatness is not manifested by unlimited pragmatism, which places such a high premium on the end justifying any means and any methods
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Mean #Greatness #Method
Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Country #Mind #Moral
I believe that in our constant search for security we can never gain any peace of mind until we secure our own soul.
-- Margaret Chase Smith

#Believe #Soul #Mind

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