Calvin Coolidge Peacetime Address Highlights: 5 Quotes From Speeches

Calvin Coolidge was the 30th president of the United States and was in office from 1923 until 1929, all of it while America was in a time of peace. By the time he took office, Coolidge was strongly conservative. He attended Amherst College after growing up in rural Vermont and progressed through the political systems of Massachusetts, eventually becoming the governor of the state before he became president. Throughout his presidency, Coolidge was sparse with words and followed the conservative line of diminishing the power of the state. Although he is not known for saying much, here are a few highlights from Calvin Coolidge's peacetime addresses.

1. "Wherever despotism abounds, the sources of public information are the first to be brought under its control. Wherever the cause of liberty is making its way, one of its highest accomplishments is the guarantee of the freedom of the press." This Coolidge quote comes from a speech he gave on January 17, 1925. It is representative of his firm conservative values on limiting the power of government, which often goes hand in hand with increasing the freedom of speech and press.
2. "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race." This Coolidge quote is indicative of the values Coolidge stood for. He attempted to embody the ideals of persistence and hard work in his time as U.S. president.

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3. "If we wish to erect new structures, we must have a definite knowledge of the old foundations." Coolidge made this point in his inaugural address on March 4, 1925. With this line, he speaks to how he views change in the government and the importance of looking back at the values upon which the U.S. was built.
4. "If we expect others to rely on our fairness and justice we must show that we rely on their fairness and justice." This statement is also from Coolidge's inaugural address. This time, the newly proclaimed president speaks to the idea that the relationships between nations and people are based on mutual trust and respect.
5. "It is hard to see how a great man can be an atheist. Without the sustaining influence of faith in a divine power, we could have little faith in ourselves." This comes from a speech given in 1924 before Coolidge became president. With this, he affirms himself as a serious Christian. To this day, many people agree with Coolidge and follow this ideology.

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