47+ Ed Koch Quotes On Education, Politics And Government

Ed Koch was an American politician who served as the 105th Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989. He is remembered for his leadership during the city's fiscal crisis of the 1970s and his overall outspokenness. He was a lifelong Democrat and continued to be active in politics until his death in 2013. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Ed Koch on education, leadership, politics.

Top 10 Ed Koch Quotes

1. The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match. Each one of you is a fuse.
2. There was always a love-hate relationship with New York in the rest of the country, but I made them feel more love than hate.
3. If they don't want to pay for it, they can stop drinking it.
4. The art of creation is older than the art of killing.
5. I said, to be a New Yorker you have to live here for six months, and if at the end of the six months you find you walk faster, talk faster, think faster, you're a New Yorker.
6. I can explain it to you, but I can't comprehend it for you.
7. If you seek violence, we will seek to put you in jail.
8. Clinton has more important things to worry about. He not only risks being destroyed historically, like Afghanistan's Buddha statues; he also could end up going to jail.
9. But enough of me. Lets talk about you. What do you think of me?
10. I wake up every morning and say to myself, Well, I'm still in New York. Thank you, God.

Ed Koch Short Quotes

• The Republicans are coming - make nice.
• Maybe he just looks good compared to the bores he's running against.
• Tree killing is arborcide.
• Don't tell me this is a difficult problem. If it weren't difficult, it wouldn't be a problem.
• Life is indeed precious, and I believe the death penalty helps affirm this fact.
• To learn something new every day is still exciting!
• It is not possible to remake the world. You can fix parts, but you can't remake the world.
• I'm not the type to get ulcers. I give them.
• I changed the city of New York. I gave people back their morale.
• We should sell them to our worst enemies, the Russians and the Cubans.

Ed Koch Quotes About Politics

The key to success in politics: Never forget, seldom forgive. — Ed Koch

Carter couldn't elect a dog-catcher. — Ed Koch

Anybody who suggests that I run for governor is no friend of mine. It's a terrible position, and besides, it requires living in Albany, which is small-town life at its worst. — Ed Koch

I intend to vote for President George W. Bush in the next election, because in my view, he is best able to wage the war against international terrorism. — Ed Koch

Many of the self-described "political refugees" who come here make stopovers in other countries on their way to the U.S., in places where they would be free to have as many children as they want. But they choose to continue on to the U.S. Why? Because it is more economically attractive. — Ed Koch

Ed Koch Famous Quotes And Sayings

Have confidence in your decisions. Make them expeditiously, and stay with them as long as you believe you are correct no matter what others say. However, when you conclude you were in error, do not hesitate to announce the error publicly and change course. — Ed Koch

Should we be rewriting history just to make people feel good? That's not history, that's psychiatry. — Ed Koch

I'm confident President Obama will continue his unambiguous commitment to the Jewish state in his second term. — Ed Koch

Like many others, I'm deeply sympathetic to the huge numbers of people looking to come here today to escape suffering and poverty in their own lands. But as a country, we cannot afford to have a total open-door policy without any restrictions on entry. — Ed Koch

...what about the millions of poor in this country who desperately need assistance and services to help bring them out of poverty? Shall they go to the back of the line? and shall those who have made a dramatic illegal entry, who would normally not be entitled to government assistance, or even entry itself, be put at the front? — Ed Koch

The person who is bent on killing you will follow you wherever you are. — Ed Koch

...the mayor should not be advancing a policy that encourages [illegal] immigrants to think of New York City as their safe haven. — Ed Koch

I was drafted into the Army when I was 19 and came out at age 22. Most people that I knew didn't think they'd come home alive. I didn't think I would either, so I was happy when I did. — Ed Koch

I probably have another two or three years. Or I can pass tomorrow, but it doesn't make a difference to me. — Ed Koch

Have you ever lived in the suburbs? It's sterile. It's nothing. It's wasting your life, and people do not wish to waste their lives once they've seen New York! This rural American thing - I'm telling you, it's a joke. — Ed Koch

I'm not an author, but before I became mayor, I wasn't a mayor. — Ed Koch

The most guileful amongst the reporters are those who appear friendly and smile and seem to be supportive. They are the ones who will seek to gut you on every occasion. — Ed Koch

If you turn your back on these people, you yourself are an animal. You may be a well-dressed animal, but you are nevertheless an animal. — Ed Koch

[The UN should remain in New York] because every country needs a cesspool. And the UN is always interesting as a theater of the absurd. — Ed Koch

However, they ignore the fact that the First Amendment is intended to protect only against government sanctions for exercising free speech rights, not private actions. — Ed Koch

I happen to believe that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. It’s whatever God made you. It happens that I’m heterosexual, but I don’t care about that. I do care about protecting the rights of 10 percent of our population who are homosexual and who don’t have the ability to protect their rights. — Ed Koch

I don't want to leave Manhattan, even when I'm gone. — Ed Koch

Unless they can immediately demonstrate a credible fear of persecution, why shouldn't these people be returned at once to the country from which they embarked - whether it be their home country or a stopover point - at the expense of the airline that brought them? All appeals would then be made from the country to which they have been returned. — Ed Koch

When I was first elected I got 50% of the vote in '77 in the general election. In '81 I got 75%. In '85, I got 78%. No mayor has ever gotten that high a vote. So it was not an issue. Except for people who were very hostile to me. They thought they would injure me. — Ed Koch

Be different-if you don't have the facts and knowledge required, simply listen. When word gets around that you can listen when others tend to talk, you will be treated as a sage. — Ed Koch

I want to come back as me. — Ed Koch

I don't believe that in our society that we should have guns. — Ed Koch

Life Lessons by Ed Koch

1. Ed Koch taught the importance of staying true to your values and beliefs, even in the face of adversity. He was a firm believer in public service, and he worked hard to ensure that all New Yorkers had access to the same opportunities.
2. He also demonstrated the importance of resilience and determination, as he faced many challenges throughout his career and never gave up.
3. Finally, he showed the power of optimism and humor, which he used to bring people together and make difficult situations more bearable.