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James K. Polk Quotes

11th U.S. President

James K. Polk was the 11th President of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. Known for his foreign policy and the expansion of the United States' territory, he is particularly remembered for his role in the Mexican War, which significantly increased the country's land area.

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Famous James K. Polk Quotes

“With me it is exceptionally true that the Presidency is no bed of roses.”

Bed Rose Presidential Presidency Bed Of Roses

Author:James K. Polk

“Public opinion: May it always perform one of its appropriate offices, by teaching the public functionaries of the State and of the Federal Government, that neither shall assume the exercise of powers entrusted by the Constitution to the other.”

May States Government Opinion Teaching Exercise Office Constitution Assuming Presidential Appropriate Federal Government Public Opinion

Author:James K. Polk

“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.”

Term Cease Presidential Servant Sovereign

Book:The diary of James K. Polk during his presidency, 1845 to 1849, now first printed from the original manuscript in the collections of the Chicago historical society; Volume 4

Source: The diary of James K. Polk during his presidency, 1845 to 1849, now first printed from the original manuscript in the collections of the Chicago historical society; Volume 4

“There are four great measures for my administration - a reduction of tariff, an independent treasury, settlement of the Oregon boundary and acquisition of California.”

Four Independent Boundaries Administration California Presidential Acquisition Reduction Settlement Treasury Oregon Tariffs

Author:James K. Polk

“The gratitude ... should be commensurate with the boundless blessings which we enjoy.”

Should Enjoy Gratitude Blessing Boundless Arbiter

Book:Messages and Papers of the Presidents: James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, and Franklin Pierce

Source: Messages and Papers of the Presidents: James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, and Franklin Pierce

“Thank God, under our Constitution there was no connection between church and state.”

States Church Connections Constitution Separation Thank God Church And State Separation Of Church And State Separation Between Church And State

Book:The Diary of James K. Polk During His Presidency

Source: The Diary of James K. Polk During His Presidency

“Under the benignant providence of Almighty God the representatives of the States and of the people are again brought together to deliberate for the public good. The gratitude of the nation to the sovereign arbiter of all human events should be commensurate with the boundless blessings which we enjoy. Peace, plenty, and contentment reign throughout our borders, and our beloved country presents a sublime moral spectacle to the world.”

Source: Messages and Papers of the Presidents: James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, and Franklin Pierce

“No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure. If he entrusts the details and smaller matters to subordinates constant errors will occur. I prefer to supervise the whole operations of the government myself rather than entrust the public business to subordinates, and this makes my duties very great.”

Ifs Matter Whole Government President Duty Constant Errors Details Operations Leisure Subordinates

Book:The diary of James K. Polk during his presidency, 1845 to 1849, now first printed from the original manuscript in the collections of the Chicago historical society; Volume 4

Source: The diary of James K. Polk during his presidency, 1845 to 1849, now first printed from the original manuscript in the collections of the Chicago historical society; Volume 4

“When I observed a strong man approaching I generally took advantage of him by being a little quicker than he was and seizing him by the tip of the fingers, giving him a hearty shake, and thus preventing him from getting a full grip upon me.”

Men Giving Littles Strong Advantage Fingers Shakes Preventing Strong Man Hearty Seizing

Book:The diary of James K. Polk during his presidency, 1845 to 1849, now first printed from the original manuscript in the collections of the Chicago historical society; Volume 4

Source: The diary of James K. Polk during his presidency, 1845 to 1849, now first printed from the original manuscript in the collections of the Chicago historical society; Volume 4

“The Constitution itself, plainly written as it is, the safeguard of our federative compact, the offspring of concession and compromise, binding together in the bonds of peace and union this great and increasing family of free and independent States, will be the chart by which I shall be directed.”

States Together Peace Written Constitution Independent Unions Compromise Offspring Binding Concessions Compact

Author:James K. Polk

“No union exists between church and state, and perfect freedom of opinion is guaranteed to all sects and creeds.”

States Church Freedom Perfect Opinion Unions Creeds Church And State Sects

Author:James K. Polk

“All distinctions of birth or of rank have been abolished. All citizens, whether native or adopted, are placed upon terms of precise equality. All are entitled to equal rights and equal protection.”

Has Beens Term Rights Birth Citizens Equal Protection Distinction Native Entitled Precise Adopted Equal Rights Equal Protection

Author:James K. Polk

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

May Limits Bounds Territorial

Author:James K. Polk

“We must ever mandate the principle that the people of this continent alone have the right to decide their own destiny.”

People Principles Destiny History Continents Mandates

Author:James K. Polk

“General Taylor is, I have no doubt, a well-meaning old man. He is, however, uneducated, exceedingly ignorant of public affairs, and I should judge, of very ordinary capacity.”

Men Should Wells Doubt Judging Ordinary Capacity Affair Ignorant No Doubt Old Man Uneducated Public Affairs

Author:James K. Polk

“There is more selfishness and less principle among members of Congress than I had any conception of, before I became President of the U.S.”

Political President Principles Members Congress Selfishness Presidential Conception

Book:The Diary of James K. Polk During His Presidency

Source: The Diary of James K. Polk During His Presidency

“One great object of the Constitution was to restrain majorities from oppressing minorities or encroaching upon their just rights.”

Rights Objects Constitution Majority Minorities

Author:James K. Polk

“Although in our country 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 part only, but of the whole people of the United States.”

People Should States Whole Action President United Party Principles History United States Chosen Chiefs Officials World History Magistrates

Author:James K. Polk

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

Constitution Oppression Appeals Minorities Shields

Author:James K. Polk

“Under the benignant providence of Almighty God the representatives of the States and of the people are again brought together to deliberate for the public good.”

People States Together Representatives Providence Almighty Deliberate Almighty God Public Good

Book:Messages and Papers of the Presidents: James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, and Franklin Pierce

Source: Messages and Papers of the Presidents: James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, and Franklin Pierce

“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.”

Ifs Government Political Passion Politics Members Office Vote Congress Operations Patriotic

Book:The Diary of James K. Polk During His Presidency

Source: The Diary of James K. Polk During His Presidency

“Peace, plenty, and contentment reign throughout our borders, and our beloved country presents a sublime moral spectacle to the world.”

World Country Moral Plenty Beloved Borders Contentment Patriotic Reign Sublime World History Beloved Country Contentment And Peace Contentment Peace

Book:Messages and Papers of the Presidents: James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, and Franklin Pierce

Source: Messages and Papers of the Presidents: James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, and Franklin Pierce

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

Political Politics President Duty Patriotic Leisure Presidency Us President

Book:The diary of James K. Polk during his presidency, 1845 to 1849, now first printed from the original manuscript in the collections of the Chicago historical society; Volume 4

Source: The diary of James K. Polk during his presidency, 1845 to 1849, now first printed from the original manuscript in the collections of the Chicago historical society; Volume 4

“I love you Sarah. For all eternity, I love you.”

Love Dying Love You Eternity Last Words Famous Last Words Dying Last Words Funny Famous Last Words

Author:James K. Polk

“Thank God, under our Constitution there was no connection between Church and State, and that in my action as President of the United States I recognized no distinction of creeds in my appointments office.”

States Action President Church United United States Office Connections Constitution Separation Presidential Distinction Thank God Creeds Church And State Separation Of Church And State Appointments Separation Between Church And State

Author:James K. Polk

“Foreign powers do not seem to appreciate the true character of our government.”

Character Seems Government Appreciate True Character

Author:James K. Polk

“I cannot, whilst President of the United States, descend to enter into a newspaper controversy.”

States President United United States Newspapers Controversy

Author:James K. Polk

“Under the blessings of Divine Providence... It becomes us, in humility, to make our devout acknowledgments to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, for the inestimable civil and religious blessings with which we are favored.”

Universe Religious Humility Divine Blessing Supreme Rulers Providence Acknowledgment Divine Providence

Author:James K. Polk

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

World Government Military Ambition

Author:James K. Polk

“The Presidency is not a bed of roses.”

Bed Rose Presidency Bed Of Roses

Author:James K. Polk

“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.”

Ifs Men Hard Hands Care Political Politics Shakes Adversaries Inconvenience

Book:The diary of James K. Polk during his presidency, 1845 to 1849, now first printed from the original manuscript in the collections of the Chicago historical society; Volume 4

Source: The diary of James K. Polk during his presidency, 1845 to 1849, now first printed from the original manuscript in the collections of the Chicago historical society; Volume 4

About the Author

Born: November 2, 1795
Died: June 15, 1849
Known for: 11th U.S. President
Quotes: 31

Books & Sources

The diary of James K. Polk during his presidency, 1845 to 1849, now first printed from the original manuscript in the collections of the Chicago historical society; Volume 4Related source material

Messages and Papers of the Presidents: James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, and Franklin PierceRelated source material

The Diary of James K. Polk During His PresidencyRelated source material

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