Quotes from Jesse White

It is every parent's nightmare when a child is in trouble with the law. As a parent, you can do your best to guide young people, but as adults, they make their own choices and live with the consequences of those decisions.

Do something to make your community a better place to live.

After being away at college and in the Army, I never considered living anywhere else. I loved Chicago then, and I love Chicago now.

I believe in commitment to duty. That's how I've lived my life.

There are some basic rules if they want to join the tumbling team. No drinking, no smoking, no swearing, no drugs and, most of all, no belonging to a gang. I read the riot act to them the minute they want to join. I tell them there's only one gang they can belong to if they want to be with me and that's Jesse White's gang.

There are a lot of young people out there who need to start using their idle time in a positive way. Parents need to play an important role in making sure their children succeed in school.

This is a great country, and it's a melting pot. People shouldn't judge other people by the color of their skin, their church, or the area where they reside.

I was not a good student; I was an average student. In order to play basketball and baseball, I had to go to school every day. And so I was pretty good in terms of attending school.

I have to play the hand that was dealt me.

I just thank the people who took part in our graduated drivers task force, who came with their thoughts and ideas as to how we can best keep our roads safe, and it has paid off.

Taxation is probably one of the biggest problems this state is facing, especially in Cook County. I think Cook County is one of the counties a lot of people don't want to live in anymore.

Just saying 'I want this and I want that' doesn't do it. My boys share and share alike in the income that the organization brings in, so that teaches them the lesson: If you work, you can earn some money. That's how life is; it's the American way.

I'm a disciplinarian. And I've always been disciplined. I like to be on time. If I have a job to do, I'm going to see it from its beginning to its conclusion. No excuses, no alibis. That's how I run my life. It's called self-tough love.

Naming a bridge after Dr. King was the right thing to do.

Things were tough. Segregation was all around - in the schools, the buses, the restaurants, the theaters. But Dr. King worked hard for black people to have a fair share.

You cannot imagine how many people called, how many letters, how many emails. Every place I go, people ask me, 'Please, don't quit.'

My parents made a great sacrifice to make sure that we had something wonderful at Christmas, and through the help of the state and others, we were able to have a good meal.

My administration is committed to continue using taxpayer dollars wisely.

When you give young people an opportunity to use their time wisely, we support them, and when we do that, we support ourselves.

Work hard, be honest, help people, never give up, love your fellow man and woman, give back to society, and don't ever discriminate.

I used to jump out of airplanes. I was a member of the 101st Airborne Division. When parachuting, you never look down at the ground. You feel for it with your legs. Your knees are your shock absorbers - you cannot tighten them. Same as skiing.

Often when we reach great heights in life, we forget who brought us there. Well, I have not.

I just believe that when we work together, wonderful things are going to happen.

During the holiday season, we've asked everyone within the sound of my voice that if you're going to celebrate, celebrate in a responsible manner.