"He does not need fame, or pity, but Martin Van Buren is worthy of a sober second thought. Quite simply, it's antidemocratic to expect all of our leaders to be great, or to pretend that they are once they are in office and using the trappings of the presidency for theatrical effect. It goes without saying that we need our Lincolns and Washingtons- the United States would not exist without them. But we need our Van Burens, too- the schemers and sharps working to defend people from all backgrounds against their natural predators. For democracy to stay realistic, we need to remain realistic about our leaders and what they can and cannot do. In other words, we need books about the not-quite-heroic. Van Buren is history, and this book has reached its terminus, but, as Kafka tells us, the work is never done."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Presidents of the United StatesLawyers from New York (state)Politicians from New York (state)New York Free SoilersUnited States Ambassadors to Great Britain and the United Kingdom
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Ted Widmer, Martin Van Buren (2005), p. 171
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Martin_Van_Buren
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren (December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862), nicknamed "Old Kinderhook", was the eighth president of the United States of America. He was the first president born after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the first not of British descent, and the only U.S. president whose first language was not English (it was Dutch).
38 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Martin Van Buren →
Related Quotes
"How imperious, then, is the obligation imposed upon every citizen, in his own sphere of action, whether limited or ex…"
"From a small community we have risen to a people powerful in numbers and in strength; but with our increase has gone …"
"There is a power in public opinion in this country -and I thank God for it: for it is the most honest and best of all…"
"The practice of all my predecessors imposes on me an obligation I cheerfully fulfill—to accompany the first and solem…"
"All the lessons of history and experience must be lost upon us if we are content to trust alone to the peculiar advan…"
"Present excitement will at all times magnify present dangers, but true philosophy must teach us that none more threat…"
"In receiving from the people the sacred trust twice confided to my illustrious predecessor, and which he has discharg…"
"There were wild scenes at Washington at the inauguration of the new President, dubbed by his opponent Adams as “the b…"
"The union of Western and Southern politicians had had their revenge upon the North. The Radicalism of the frontier ha…"
"I tread in the footsteps of illustrious men... in receiving from the people the sacred trust confided to my illustrio…"