Democracy used to be a good thing, but now it has gotten into the wrong hands.

- Jesse Helms

If God had wanted us to use the metric system, Jesus would have had 10 apostles.

- Jesse Helms

White people, wake up before it is too late. Do you want Negroes working beside you, your wife and your daughters, in your mills and factories? Frank…

- Jesse Helms

Compromise, hell! That's what has happened to us all down the line -- and that's the very cause of our woes. If freedom is right and tyranny is wrong…

- Jesse Helms

They should ask their parents if it would be all right for their son or daughter to marry a Negro.

- Jesse Helms

The New York Times and Washington Post are both infested with homosexuals themselves. Just about every person down there is a homosexual or lesbian.

- Jesse Helms

I fight for what I believe. If you are not willing to stand up for what you believe, your beliefs are not strong enough.

- Jesse Helms

If you want to call me a bigot, fine.

- Jesse Helms

This is an area where North Carolina does excel. I have known more colorful North Carolina political figures than I have colorless ones.

- Jesse Helms