Arlen Specter Quotes

Powerful Arlen Specter for Daily Growth

About Arlen Specter

Arlen Specter (1930-2016), an eminent American lawyer and politician, was renowned for his long and controversial career in public service. Born on February 22, 1930, in the Bronx, New York City, to Jewish immigrant parents, he demonstrated exceptional intellectual abilities early on. Specter graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University in 1951 and went on to earn his law degree from Yale Law School in 1956. Specter began his career as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia before gaining prominence in the late 1960s for his role as the chief prosecutor in the trial of Samuel Byck, who attempted to hijack a plane and crash it into the White House during the Nixon administration. This case cemented Specter's reputation as an exceptional criminal lawyer. In 1965, Specter was appointed by Philadelphia District Attorney Arlen Roth to serve as a special assistant district attorney in the trial of Richard Speck, who murdered eight student nurses in Chicago. His impressive performance during this trial solidified his status as a formidable legal mind. In 1977, Specter was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania, where he served until 2010. He gained national attention for his role in the Watergate scandal and his investigation of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. His most significant work, perhaps, is the "Federal Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990," which made it a federal crime to knowingly possess a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school. In 2009, Specter switched parties and became a Democrat due to disagreements with the Republican Party on key issues such as climate change and healthcare reform. He retired from the Senate in 2011. Arlen Specter will be remembered for his sharp intellect, resilience, and his significant contributions to American law and politics.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The truth is, in a legal sense, there is no difference between the two." - Arlen Specter on impeachment

This quote by Arlen Specter suggests that, from a strictly legal standpoint, there is no distinction between an impeachable offense for a high government official and a regular crime. Both are considered violations of the law or duties associated with the office held, and either can be grounds for initiating the impeachment process. However, it's important to note that public opinion and political considerations often play a significant role in whether an impeachment proceeding actually takes place, beyond just the strictly legal aspects.


"I've always felt that if you're going to vote against the President of your own party, you ought to give him the opportunity to explain why you should do it." - Arlen Specter

This quote from Arlen Specter highlights the importance of understanding and giving a chance for explanation before making a decision that opposes someone within one's own political party, specifically the President. It suggests a thoughtful approach to dissent, emphasizing communication and dialogue as crucial elements in democratic decision-making processes.


"If a man decides to be a doctor for 40 years, he doesn't have to keep proving to the world that he is one." - Arlen Specter

This quote by Arlen Specter highlights the idea of life-long dedication and the recognition of one's identity. The doctor in this context symbolizes any individual dedicated to a specific profession or path. Specter suggests that once someone has committed their career to a particular field for an extended period, they don't have to continuously prove their competence to others. Their commitment, experience, and expertise speak for themselves, and their identity as a professional is well-established. This quote encourages us to acknowledge the dedication of individuals in various fields and trust their skills without constantly requiring proof.


"I do not believe that one who serves in public office should be afraid to change his views with the passage of time and experience." - Arlen Specter

This quote highlights the idea that individuals holding public office should embrace intellectual honesty, adaptability, and growth. It suggests that as people gain more knowledge, experiences, and perspective over time, it's natural and acceptable for their beliefs to evolve. This stance encourages an open mindset within political figures, emphasizing the importance of personal development and flexibility in policy-making.


"It's very difficult to say what is constitutional and what isn't, because it depends on the context." - Arlen Specter

Arlen Specter's quote emphasizes that the interpretation of constitutionality can be complex due to the context in which the law is applied. In other words, understanding the Constitution's meaning isn't always straightforward because specific circumstances or situations may influence its application. This highlights the importance of considering context when making legal decisions and judgments.


In our social contract, we have provisions that see to it that you take care of people who need some help.

- Arlen Specter

Need, Some, Social, Contract

Beating the tea party gang is more important than who does the beating.

- Arlen Specter

Tea, Important, Gang, Beating

Heart disease continues to be the number one killer; cancer, the number 2 killer, not far behind. The tragic aspect of these deadly diseases is that they could all be cured, I do believe, if we had sufficient funding.

- Arlen Specter

Believe, Behind, Had, Deadly

People in government and public life are being kicked around at a high rate of speed.

- Arlen Specter

Government, High, Public, Kicked

My tenure in the Senate was really as an independent and whichever, regardless of party label.

- Arlen Specter

Independent, Senate, Label

Strong advocacy for education, health care and worker safety will be indispensable if they are to get their fair share of President Bush's austere budget for the next fiscal year.

- Arlen Specter

Education, Strong, Next, Advocacy

I'm battling cancer. It's another battle I intend to win.

- Arlen Specter

Battle, Another, Battling, Intend

I just was not going to subject my record to the bleak prospects of a primary election.

- Arlen Specter

Election, Going, Subject, Bleak

As the Republican Party has moved farther and farther to the right, I have found myself increasingly at odds with the Republican philosophy and more in line with the philosophy of the Democratic Party.

- Arlen Specter

More, Increasingly, Farther, Odds

Whatever my party affiliation, I will continue to be guided by President Kennedy's statement that sometimes party asks too much.

- Arlen Specter

Too Much, Sometimes, Will, Guided

The essence of a democracy is a free electorate.

- Arlen Specter

Democracy, Free, Essence, Electorate

I don't like labels. I think they conceal more than they reveal, sort of like a bikini.

- Arlen Specter

Think, Conceal, I Think, Bikini

We don't need holy wars. What we need is tolerance and brotherhood and simple humanity.

- Arlen Specter

Brotherhood, Need, Holy, Tolerance

My definition of winning at squash is playing and surviving, and I've never lost a match.

- Arlen Specter

Winning, Lost, Never, Squash

I've been playing squash almost daily for 38 years.

- Arlen Specter

Daily, Been, Almost, Squash

If we had pursued what President Nixon declared in 1970 as the war on cancer, we would have cured many strains. I think Jack Kemp would be alive today. And that research has saved or prolonged many lives, including mine.

- Arlen Specter

Alive, I Think, Nixon, Jack

Look, the president can discharge all 93 U.S. attorneys for no reason at all, but not for a bad reason.

- Arlen Specter

Reason, Bad, Attorneys, Discharge

There's nothing in the First Amendment that even remotely talks about spending money for political contests, and to say that an individual can spend as much of his or her own money as he or she wants constitutionally without any limitation, I think is just absurd.

- Arlen Specter

Limitation, Amendment, Contests

Fundraising is very, very time-consuming.

- Arlen Specter

Time-Consuming, Very, Fundraising

If enough people would come out the right wing, the extremists couldn't dominate.

- Arlen Specter

Come, Extremists, Right Wing, Wing

The extremists took over the primary process.

- Arlen Specter

Process, Over, Took, Primary

It's a rarity when someone takes a political risk in Washington today in the public interest.

- Arlen Specter

Interest, Someone, Public, Public Interest

I beat a brain tumor.

- Arlen Specter

Brain, Beat, Tumor

I've made a career of being precise.

- Arlen Specter

Career, Made, Being, Precise

Stability means respecting precedents.

- Arlen Specter

Means, Respecting, Stability

We are not utilizing the Iraqi oil for U.S. purposes. We are not asking that the Iraqi oil be used to pay our military expenses. We are asking only that the Iraqi oil be used to rebuild Iraq - that is, to rebuild Iraq for the Iraqi people.

- Arlen Specter

Asking, Rebuild, Utilizing, Iraqi People

I ran for president in 1996.

- Arlen Specter

President, Ran

But one way or another, judges perform a very vital function in our society. They have a risky job and they are entitled to security.

- Arlen Specter

Another, Very, Entitled, Risky

Separation of power says the judiciary committee is supposed to confirm qualified judges and then what the Supreme Court does, that is their function, not my function.

- Arlen Specter

Committee, Qualified, Judges

I think my independence was a big help to getting Judges Roberts and Alito confirmed, and I think that's recognized.

- Arlen Specter

Think, Big, I Think, Judges

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.