Margaret Chase Smith Quotes

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.

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.

I always try to think before I talk.

Surely the United States Senate is big enough to take self-criticism and self-appraisal. Surely we should be able to take the same kind of character attacks that we "dish out" to outsiders.

When people keep telling you that you can't do a thing, you kind of like to try it.

I speak as briefly as possible because too much harm has already been done with irresponsible words of bitterness and selfish political opportunism. I speak as simply as possible because the issue is too great to be obscured by eloquence. I speak simply and briefly in the hope that my words will be taken to heart.

I think that it is high time that we remembered that we have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution. I think that it is high time that we remembered that the Constitution, as amended, speaks not only of the freedom of speech but also of trial by jury instead of trial by accusation.

We should not permit tolerance to degenerate into indifference.

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.

Women administer the home. They set the rules, enforce them, mete out justice for violations. Thus, like Congress, they legislate; like the Executive, they administer; like the courts, they interpret the rules. It is an ideal experience for politics.

Freedom unexercised may be freedom forfeited. The preservation of freedom is in the hands of the people themselves - not of the government.

Freedom unexercised may become freedom forfeited.

I do not want to see the Republican party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny-fear, ignorance, bigotry and smear.