Quotes from Andrew Johnson

If I am shot at, I want no man to be in the way of the bullet.

The life of a republic lies certainly in the energy, virtue, and intelligence of its citizens.

Honest conviction is my courage; the Constitution is my guide.

Honest conviction is my courage the Constitution is my guide.

If I have played the Judas, who has been my Christ that I have played the Judas with? Was it Thad Stevens? Was it Wendell Phillips? Was it Charles Sumner? These are the men that stop and compare themselves with the Savior; and everybody that differs with them in opinion, and to try to stay and arrest their diabolical and nefarious policy, is to be denounced as a Judas.

The goal to strive for is a poor government but a rich people.

Outside of the Constitution we have no legal authority more than private citizens, and within it we have only so much as that instrument gives us. This broad principle limits all our functions and applies to all subjects.

Our government sprang from and was made for the people -- not the people for the government. To them it owes an allegiance from them it must derive its courage, strength, and wisdom.

Slavery exists. It is black in the South, and white in the North.

God being willing and whether traitors be few or many I intend to fight them to the end.

Without a home there can be no good citizen. With a home there can be no bad one.

Tyranny and despotism can be exercised by many, more rigorously, more vigorously, and more severely, than by one.

It is difficult to accept how deep and wide the cover up of 9/11 actually is. The very magnitude of this cover up is enough to make many people scoff, roll their eyes or utter a sentence including a phrase such as "conspiracy theorist".

If the rabble were lopped off at one end and the aristocrats at the other, all would be well with the country.

Legislation can neither be wise nor just which seeks the welfare of a single interest at the expense and to the injury of many and varied interests.

There are no good laws but such as repeal other laws.

I realized, there are people out there who can beat me, want to beat me. And unless I continue to innovate and evolve, I am going to learn a painful lesson from someone who has.

I hold it the duty of the executive to insist upon frugality in the expenditure, and a sparing economy is itself a great national source.

Whenever you hear a man prating about the Constitution, spot him as a traitor.

If I am to be shot at, I want no man to be in the way of the bullet.

I feel incompetent to perform duties... which have been so unexpectedly thrown upon me.

Who, then, will govern? The answer must be, Man - for we have no angels in the shape of men, as yet, who are willing to take charge of our political affairs.

I am sworn to uphold the Constitution as Andy Johnson understands it and interprets it.

Outside of the Constitution we have no legal authority more than private citizens, and within it we have only so much as that instrument gives us. This broad principle limits all our functions and applies to all subjects.