"No sane local official who has hung up an empty stocking over the municipal fireplace is going to shoot Santa Claus just before a hard Christmas."
About Al Smith
Al Smith — Life and Legacy
Al Smith was a significant figure in American politics during the early 20th century, serving as the Governor of New York and becoming the first Catholic presidential nominee from a major party. His leadership was marked by a commitment to social justice and the rights of workers, which he articulated through impactful quotes that resonate with his vision for a more equitable society. Smith's core ideas revolved around the belief that government should actively support the welfare of its citizens. He famously stated, 'the only way to get ahead is to get started,' emphasizing the necessity of action in the pursuit of progress. This reflects his understanding that leadership requires initiative and responsibility, particularly in addressing the needs of the working class. His advocacy for urban reform and labor rights challenged the status quo, positioning him as a voice for those often overlooked in political discourse. The relevance of Smith's quotes and ideas persists today, as they continue to inspire discussions about leadership, innovation, and social responsibility. His legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of vision in governance, urging current and future leaders to prioritize the well-being of all citizens.
Quote collection
Al Smith quotes
14 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Be sincere. Be simple in words, manners, and gestures. Amuse as well as instruct. If you can make a man laugh, you can make him think and make him like and believe you."
"The American people never carry an umbrella. They prepare to walk in eternal sunshine."
"It is a confession of the weakness of our own faith in the righteousness of our cause when we attempt to suppress by law those who do not agree with us."
"I believe in absolute freedom of conscience for all men and equality of all churches, all sects and all beliefs before the law as a matter of right and not as a matter of favor. I believe in the absolute separation of church and state and in the strict enforcement of the Constitution that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof I believe that no tribunal of any church has any power to make any decree of any force in the law of the land, other than to establish the status of its own communicants within its own church."
"I can think of no greater disaster to this country than to have the voters of it divide upon religious lines."
"I believe in the absolute separation of church and state and in the strict enforcement of the Constitution that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
"If a man must make himself appear cheerful; he must know why he is miserable."
"It is the right of our people to organize to oppose any law and any part of the Constitution with which they are not in sympathy."
"All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy."
"Sin is like a journey, it begins with one step."
"I believe in the support of the public school as one of the cornerstones of American liberty. I believe in the right of every parent to choose whether his child shall be educated in the public school or in a religious school supported by those of his own faith."
"The thing we have to fear in this country, to my way of thinking, is the influence of the organized minorities, because somehow or other the great majority does not seem to organize. They seem to feel that they are going to be effective because of their own strength, but they give no expression of it."
"The Brooklyn Bridge and I grew up together."