James K. Polk Professions : 11th U.S. PresidentBorn : November 2, 1795Died : June 15, 1849 Browse All Authors Top 44 quotes by James K. Polk No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure. James K. Polk patrioticpoliticalpresident There are four great measures for my administration - a reduction of tariff, an independent treasury, settlement of the Oregon boundary and acquisition of California. James K. Polk oregoncaliforniaindependent We must ever mandate the principle that the people of this continent alone have the right to decide their own destiny. James K. Polk destinyhistorypeople Thank God, under our Constitution there was no connection between church and state. James K. Polk connectionsthank-godchurch One great object of the Constitution was to restrain majorities from oppressing minorities or encroaching upon their just rights. James K. Polk majorityminoritiesrights Under the blessings of Divine Providence... It becomes us, in humility, to make our devout acknowledgments to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, for the inestimable civil and religious blessings with which we are favored. James K. Polk humilityreligiousblessing All distinctions of birth or of rank have been abolished. All citizens, whether native or adopted, are placed upon terms of precise equality. All are entitled to equal rights and equal protection. James K. Polk birthcitizensrights I cannot, whilst President of the United States, descend to enter into a newspaper controversy. James K. Polk united-statesnewspaperspresident Foreign powers do not seem to appreciate the true character of our government. James K. Polk appreciategovernmentcharacter It is confidently believed that our system may be safely extended to the utmost bounds of our territorial limits. James K. Polk territoriallimitsmay With me it is exceptionally true that the Presidency is no bed of roses. James K. Polk presidencybed-of-rosespresidential Peace, plenty, and contentment reign throughout our borders, and our beloved country presents a sublime moral spectacle to the world. James K. Polk patrioticsublimecountry If a man . . . would shake and not be shaken, grip and not be gripped, taking care always to squeeze the hand of his adversary as hard as it squeezed him, then he suffered no inconvenience from it. James K. Polk politicalmenhands The gratitude ... should be commensurate with the boundless blessings which we enjoy. James K. Polk gratitudeshouldblessing No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure. If he entrusts the details and smaller matters to subordinates constant errors will occur. I prefer to supervise the whole operations of the government myself rather than entrust the public business to subordinates, and this makes my duties very great. James K. Polk errorsgovernmentpresident Although in our country the Chief Magistrate must almost of necessity be chosen by a party and stand pledged to its principles and measures, yet in his official action he should not be the President of a part only, but of the whole people of the United States. James K. Polk partyhistorypeople There is more selfishness and less principle among members of Congress than I had any conception of, before I became President of the U.S. James K. Polk selfishnesspresidentialpolitical Minorities have a right to appeal to the Constitution as a shield against such oppression. James K. Polk shieldsconstitutionminorities The Constitution itself, plainly written as it is, the safeguard of our federative compact, the offspring of concession and compromise, binding together in the bonds of peace and union this great and increasing family of free and independent States, will be the chart by which I shall be directed. James K. Polk independenttogetherpeace The world has nothing to fear from military ambition in our Government. James K. Polk governmentambitionmilitary
