Henry Clay
FameRank: 6

"Henry Clay, Sr." was an American lawyer, politician, and skilled orator who represented Kentucky in both the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives/House of Representatives. He served three different terms as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives/Speaker of the House of Representatives and was also United States Secretary of State/Secretary of State from 1825 to 1829. He lost his campaigns for president in United States presidential election, 1824/1824, United States presidential election, 1832/1832 and United States presidential election, 1844/1844.

If you enjoy these quotes, be sure to check out other famous statesmen! More Henry Clay on Wikipedia.

Statistics are no substitute for judgment.

359

In all the affairs of life, social as well as political, courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest to the grateful and appreciating heart.

251

If you wish to avoid foreign collision, you had better abandon the ocean.

247

Let him who elevates himself above humanity . . . say, if he pleases, "I will never compromise"; but let no one who is not above the frailties of our common nature disdain compromise.

198

Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people.

196

Yes, sir, from Constantinople, or from the Brazil; from Turk or Christian; from black or white; from the dey of Algiers or the bey of Tunis; from the devil himself, if he wore a crown, we should receive a minister.

189

Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart.

116

I had rather be right than be President.

113

Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character.

106

An oppressed people are authorized whenever they can to rise and break their fetters.

94