70 Quotes by Edward I. Koch

In a neighborhood, as in life, a clean bandage is much, much better than a raw or festering wound.

Deals are my art form. Other people paint beautifully on canvas or write wonderful poetry. I like making deals, preferably big deals. That’s how I get my kicks.

When I was first elected I got 50% of the vote in ’77 in the general election. In ’81 I got 75%. In ’85, I got 78%. No mayor has ever gotten that high a vote. So it was not an issue. Except for people who were very hostile to me. They thought they would injure me.

The best way to lose weight is to close your mouth – something very difficult for a politician. Or watch your food – just watch it, don’t eat it.

Carter couldn’t elect a dog-catcher.

There’s enormous energy required to carry grudges – enormous energy! And I’m getting too old to expend my energy that way, cause I think every person has a limited amount of energy. So I have given up all grudges.

Like many others, I’m deeply sympathetic to the huge numbers of people looking to come here today to escape suffering and poverty in their own lands. But as a country, we cannot afford to have a total open-door policy without any restrictions on entry.

The person who is bent on killing you will follow you wherever you are.

We’re in the hands of the state legislature and God, but at the moment, the state legislature has more to say than God.