Barbara Jordan

“For all of its uncertainty, we cannot flee the future.”

“What the people want is very simple - they want an America as good as its promise.”

“There is no obstacle in the path of young people who are poor or members of minority groups that hard work and preparation cannot cure.”

“I believe that women have a capacity for understanding and compassion which man structurally does not have, does not have it because he cannot have it. He's just incapable of it.”

“We must exchange the philosophy of excuse - what I am is beyond my control for the philosophy of responsibility.”

“What we have to do is strike a balance between the idea that government should do everything and the idea, the belief, that government ought to do nothing. Strike a balance.”

“I think it no accident that most of those emigrating to America in the 19th century identified with the Democratic Party. We are a heterogeneous party made up of Americans of diverse backgrounds.”

“Even as I stand here and admit that we have made mistakes I still believe that as the people of America sit in judgment on each party, they will recognize that our mistakes were mistakes of the heart. They'll recognize that.”

“If you're going to play the game properly, you'd better know every rule.”

“We cannot improve on the system of government handed down to us by the founders of the Republic. There is no way to improve upon that. But what we can do is to find new ways to implement that system and realize our destiny.”

“Throughout out history, when people have looked for new ways to solve their problems, and to uphold the principles of this nation, many times they have turned to political parties. They have often turned to the Democratic Party.”

“The imperative is to define what is right and do it.”

“Let us heed the voice of the people and recognize their common sense. If we do not, we not only blaspheme our political heritage, we ignore the common ties that bind all Americans.”

“If we promise as public officials, we must deliver. If we as public officials propose, we must produce.”

“A government is invigorated when each of us is willing to participate in shaping the future of this nation.”

“A nation is formed by the willingness of each of us to share in the responsibility for upholding the common good.”

“We have made mistakes. In our haste to do all things for all people, we did not foresee the full consequences of our actions. And when the people raised their voices, we didn't hear. But our deafness was only a temporary condition, and not an irreversible condition.”

“Let each person do his or her part. If one citizen is unwilling to participate, all of us are going to suffer. For the American idea, though it is shared by all of us, is realized in each one of us.”

“In other times, I could stand here and give this kind of exposition on the beliefs of the Democratic Party and that would be enough. But today that is not enough. People want more.”

“I have confidence that we can form this kind of national community.”