I tread in the footsteps of illustrious men, whose superiors it is our happiness to believe are not found on the executive calendar of any country.
Interpretation
The quote reflects the reverence for the achievements of great leaders and the aspiration to follow their path.
In this quote, Martin Van Buren expresses admiration for the remarkable leaders who have come before him, suggesting that their exceptional qualities and contributions are a source of inspiration. He implies that true greatness is rare and that he finds joy in believing that such extraordinary individuals are not bound by the limitations of any current political or executive framework, thus encouraging future leaders to aspire to their legacy.
In practice
In a graduation speech, a speaker could use this quote to inspire students to aspire to greatness.
To avoid the necessity of a permanent debt and its inevitable consequences, I have advocated and endeavored to carry into effect the policy of confining the appropriations for the public service to such objects only as are clearly with the constitutional authority of the Federal Government.
In time of peace there can, at all events, be no justification for the creation of a permanent debt by the Federal Government. Its limited range of constitutional duties may certainly under such circumstances be performed without such a resort.
It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn't.
The less government interferes with private pursuits, the better for general prosperity.
Those who have wrought great changes in the world never succeeded by gaining over chiefs; but always by exciting the multitude. The first is the resource of intrigue and produces only secondary results, the second is the resort of genius and transforms the universe.
The government should not be guided by Temporary Excitement, but by Sober Second Thought.
A statesman who keeps his ear permanently glued to the ground will have neither elegance of posture nor flexibility of movement.
As a leader, you have to take responsibility for your own failures as well as successes. That's the only way you'll learn. _x000D_ If you keep learning, you'll improve. _x000D_ If you improve, your leadership will get better. _x000D_ And in time, you will earn the right to lead on the level you deserve.
I think for leadership positions, emotional intelligence is more important than cognitive intelligence. People with emotional intelligence usually have a lot of cognitive intelligence, but that's not always true the other way around.
Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans - born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace.
Let me have men about me that are fat, Sleek-headed-men, and such as sleep o'nights; Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; he thinks too much; such men are dangerous.
I think Clinton, after getting into office and into Washington, was shocked at being bludgeoned. So he spent time trying to be all things to all people - one way guaranteed not to be successful or respected in a lion's den. You can't just play around with all those big cats - you've got to take somebody on.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.