Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Ford reminds officials that they are temporary servants without hereditary power or infallibility, emphasizing accountability.
In plain terms
Officials are temporary servants with no special status or guaranteed right.
What can you take from it?
Remember that public office is temporary and does not grant special status.

Where it applies

  • legislative sessions
  • political rhetoric

Putting it to work

  • reinforce public service ethics
  • avoid elitism

Questions to consider

  • How should representatives view their status?
  • Is any authority truly temporary?

Another view

Some officials do accumulate long-term power and influence.

More from Gerald Ford

  1. The exclusive right to declare war, the duty to advise and consent on the part of the Senate, the power of the purse on the part of the House are ample authori…

    Permalink to quote #28
  2. The three-martini lunch is the epitome of American efficiency. Where else can you get an earful, a bellyful and a snootful at the same time?

    Permalink to quote #30
  3. There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe - and there never will be under a Ford administration... The United States does not concede that those countrie…

    Permalink to quote #27

Related quotes

  1. As to the presidency, the two happiest days of my life were those of my entrance upon the office and my surrender of it.

    Martin Van BurenMartin Van Buren quote #3
  2. In 1840 I was called from my farm to undertake the administration of public affairs and I foresaw that I was called to a bed of thorns.

    John TylerJohn Tyler quote #4
  3. I believe that by judging EPA's actions-not just our promise to do what's right, but our work in sampling and cleaning up whatever should be cleaned up-the com…

    Michael D. BrownMichael D. Brown quote #4