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.
If you have a sense of purpose and a sense of direction, I believe people will follow you. Democracy isn't just about deducing what the people want. Democracy is leading the people as well.
There's some evidence that if you're recruiting, you tend to recruit a mini-me. Then you have a very comfortable group round a table. You all think alike. You agree. People are arguing that the banking crisis was because too many of the relevant bodies were thinkalikes, and that if they'd had more diversity, maybe it wouldn't have happened.
For most of us, fidelity is faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty. For the men and women of the FBI, fidelity also means fidelity to country. It means fidelity to justice and the law, fidelity to the Constitution, fidelity to equality and liberty.
I applaud Women in Film - not only for celebrating the successes of women, but for providing a safety network to mentor women and to discuss the particular issues that arise in a very male-dominated industry.
I never use the word 'I' when I interview someone. I think it's irrelevant.
The purpose is clear. It is safety with solvency. The country is entitled to both.
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