44 Quotes by James K. Polk

Although... 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 party only, but of the whole people of the United States.

The passion for office among members of Congress is very great, if not absolutely disreputable, and greatly embarrasses the operations of the Government. They create offices by their own votes and then seek to fill them themselves.

No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure.

The world has nothing to fear from military ambition in our Government.

I am heartily rejoiced that my term is so near its close. I will soon cease to be a servant and will become a sovereign.

Minorities have a right to appeal to the Constitution as a shield against such oppression.

The Presidency is not a bed of roses.

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.

It is confidently believed that our system may be safely extended to the utmost bounds of our territorial limits...