In 1984, I gave a speech at Notre Dame titled 'Religious Belief and Public Morality.' I said that Catholic legislators will live by the laws of the church because we want to stay in the club. Mario Cuomo More Quotes by Mario Cuomo More Quotes From Mario Cuomo We work harder and we earn less. Income inequality is at the highest point in over a century. While American capitalism never guaranteed success, it did guarantee opportunity, for too many, the dream of economic mobility has been replaced with a nightmare of economic stagnation. Mario Cuomo hard-work dream success There are some who ask us to believe that if we want the best of times for ourselves, the fit and the fortunate, then we'll just have to learn to live with the worst of times for millions of other Americans - that we're doomed to be a nation of the lucky and the left-out. I don't believe it. My mother didn't believe it. Your ancestors didn't believe it. And I don't think you should believe it. Mario Cuomo mother believe thinking It's a Little Leaguers game that major leaguers play extraordinarily well, a game that excites us throughout adulthood. The crack of the bat and the scent of the horsehide on leather bring back our own memories that have been washed away with the sweat and tears of summers long gone...even as the setting sun pushes the shadows past home plate. Mario Cuomo baseball summer memories I told them that my grandfather had died in the Great Crash of 1929 - a stockbroker jumped out of a window and crushed him and his pushcart down below. Mario Cuomo crash grandfather window What I didn't do was pick one thing and keep saying it over and over again, so I could have gotten credit for it. Mario Cuomo one-thing picks credit Entertainers and sports figures achieve fame and wealth but find the world empty and dull without the solace and stimulation of drugs. Mario Cuomo drug sports world We believe in a government strong enough to use words like "love" and "compassion" and smart enough to convert our noblest aspirations into practical realities. Mario Cuomo smart strong believe A judge can manipulate the law. A smart lawyer can keep a killer out of jail. Mario Cuomo smart jail law I somehow got this reputation of diddling and dithering. I don't remember dithering at all. Mario Cuomo reputation remember Way down deep the American people are afraid of an entangling relationship between formal religions - or whole bodies of religious belief - and government. Apart from constitutional law and religious doctrine, there is a sense that tells us it's wrong to presume to speak for God or to claim God's sanction of our particular legislation and his rejection of all other positions. Most of us are offended when we see religion being trivialized by its appearance in political throw-away pamphlets. Mario Cuomo government religious law The American people need no course in philosophy or political science or church history to know that God should not be made into a celestial party chairman. To most of us, the manipulative invoking of religion to advance a politician or a party is frightening and divisive. The American people will tolerate religious leaders taking positions for or against candidates. Mario Cuomo party religious philosophy You will not be able to tell that they are capable of greatness until you provide them with a packed house, a 3-and-2 count and the game is on the line. Mario Cuomo greatness games inspiring When you've parked the second car in the garage, and installed the hot tub, and skied in Colorado, and wind-surfed in the Caribbean, when you've had your first love affair and your second and your third, the question will remain, where does the dream end for me? Mario Cuomo first-love dream wind I protect my right to be a Catholic by preserving your right to believe as a Jew, a Protestant, or non-believer, or as anything else you choose. Mario Cuomo atheism catholic believe Every time I've done something that doesn't feel right, it's ended up not being right. Mario Cuomo honesty integrity inspirational Wes Clark is a man of whom you can ask a question, and he will look you directly in the eye, and give you the most truthful and complete answer you can imagine. You will know the absolute truth of the statement as well as the thought process behind the answer. You will have no doubt as to the intellect of the speaker and meaning of the answer to this question....So you can see, as a politician, he has a lot to learn. Mario Cuomo eye giving men Way down deep the American people are afraid of an entangling relationship between formal religions - or whole bodies of religious belief - and government. Mario Cuomo government religious people In 1960 Americans chose John F. Kennedy because they were ready for change. They were ready for new and better ideas. After six years of scandals and failed policies under the Reagan Administration, Americans are again ready for change and stronger leadership. I love my country. That is why I am seeking the Democratic nomination for president. Mario Cuomo country years ideas We believe in a government that is characterized by fairness and reasonableness, a reasonableness that goes beyond labels, that doesn't distort or promise to do things that we know we can't do. Mario Cuomo government believe promise A shining city is perhaps all the president sees from the portico of the White House and the veranda of his ranch, where everyone seems to be doing well. But there's another part to the shining city. In this part of the city there are more poor than ever, more families in trouble, more and more people who need help but can't find it. Mario Cuomo cities white people
