Dick Durbin Quotes

Powerful Dick Durbin for Daily Growth

About Dick Durbin

Dick Durbin, born Richard J. Durbin Jr. on November 21, 1944, in East St. Louis, Illinois, is an eminent American politician serving as the senior United States Senator from Illinois since 1997. Raised in a working-class family, Durbin developed a strong commitment to public service early in life. He earned his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and later graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law. His legal career began as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. In 1981, Durbin entered politics when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served until his election to the Senate in 1996. As a Senator, Durbin has been a vocal advocate for working families, consumers, and veterans. He rose through the ranks of the Democratic leadership, serving as the Democratic Whip from 2005 to 2023, making him the second-highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate. Durbin's major works include the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act, which strengthened the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and his efforts to combat climate change, such as sponsoring the American Power Act. He has also been a strong advocate for gun control, immigration reform, and healthcare expansion. Despite his busy political career, Durbin has found time to author several books, including "With All My Might: A True Story of Love, War, and the Battle for the Soul of America" and "A Senator's Guide to Climate Change: The Science, the Politics, and What We Can Do About It." Dick Durbin continues to serve as a powerful voice in American politics, combining his legal background with a deep commitment to social justice and the well-being of all Americans.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"A strong nation is a compassionate nation."

This quote by Dick Durbin signifies that a strong, powerful nation is not merely defined by its economic or military might, but also by its capacity for empathy, kindness, and care towards its citizens and the less fortunate. In essence, a strong nation demonstrates its strength by showing compassion in its policies, actions, and interactions with others, thereby fostering unity, resilience, and respect within society.


"The greatest challenge we face in this country today is not a lack of resources; it's a lack of resolve."

This quote emphasizes that the most significant obstacle America encounters isn't a scarcity of resources but rather a deficiency in determination and resolve. It suggests that with sufficient willpower, drive, and perseverance, the country can overcome any challenges or adversities it faces. The underlying message is that while resources are essential, they are insufficient without the commitment and resolve to use them effectively to tackle problems and achieve goals.


"We are better than this as a country."

This quote by Dick Durbin underscores the inherent optimism and faith in America's potential for greatness. It suggests that, despite challenges or difficulties faced by the nation, there remains an underlying sense of hope and belief in its capacity for positive change and progress. The sentiment implies a call to action, encouraging Americans to strive towards higher ideals, to uphold the principles that make their country exceptional, and to work together to overcome adversity. In essence, this quote is a reminder of America's potential greatness and a challenge to live up to its best self.


"It's no secret that immigration reform has long been overdue, and we cannot let the politics of fear or political convenience stand in the way of doing what is right for our nation."

This quote emphasizes the urgency for comprehensive immigration reform due to its long-standing necessity. Durbin indicates that any obstacles, be it the politics of fear or political convenience, should not hinder the implementation of policies that are just and beneficial for the nation as a whole. The message underscores the importance of prioritizing the greater good over short-term political gain and addressing immigration issues with compassion and reason.


"Every time a school shooting happens, it rips our hearts out. But this time, our collective heart should be broken into a thousand pieces because we have the power to do something about it and we refuse to act."

The quote emphasizes deep sadness and frustration at the recurring tragedy of school shootings in America. It suggests that the knowledge that action could prevent these events should compel the public and policymakers to take immediate steps to address gun violence, but instead, they choose inaction, leading to an immense sense of despair and anger. The quote serves as a call-to-action for collective responsibility and progress in enacting meaningful reform to protect schools and communities from the devastating impact of gun violence.


Sunlight is better than secrecy when it comes to making laws.

- Dick Durbin

Better, Sunlight, Making, Secrecy

Personally, I would counsel any woman who asked, in my family, to do her best to carry the child full term, and I'd try to help. But I do believe the government should not prohibit a woman from making that decision.

- Dick Durbin

Best, Woman, Believe, Prohibit

These are men and women who are willing to risk their lives in defense of their country. And the fact that their orientation - sexual orientation's been held against them is a blot on our nation's reputation.

- Dick Durbin

Country, Orientation, Been, Blot

You know, the purpose of reconciliation is to avoid the filibuster. The filibuster is an effort to talk something to death.

- Dick Durbin

Death, Purpose, Know, Filibuster

Whether you agree or disagree with privatization, two things are obvious. First, taxpayers need to be asking more and better questions before handing over control of critical public assets like a highway, an airport, or a parking meter concession. And second, Uncle Sam is being played for a sucker.

- Dick Durbin

Parking, Asking, Critical, Sucker

Borrowing 40 cents out of every dollar we spend for missiles or food stamps is unsustainable. And being indebted for generations to China and OPEC does not make American a stronger nation.

- Dick Durbin

Nation, Generations, Cents, Food Stamps

If we do nothing, as the Republicans suggest, we're going to see health care costs reach a point where small businesses can't afford it and families can't afford it. We're going to see people turned down from pre-existing conditions. We're going to find the Medicare doughnut hole - a gap in coverage that's going to hurt a lot of seniors.

- Dick Durbin

Small, Republicans, Turned, Suggest

Progressives should be willing to talk about ways to ensure the long-term viability of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but those conversations should not be part of a plan to avert the fiscal cliff.

- Dick Durbin

Cliff, Social, Ensure, Conversations

I've been out to Walter Reed on unannounced visits. I've seen these soldiers. I've met their families.

- Dick Durbin

Soldiers, Been, Families, Reed

The for-profit college industry is clearly the single-heaviest subsidized business in America. More than any defense contractor or any farm operation... So many of them are a horrible waste of students' time and of taxpayer dollars.

- Dick Durbin

College, Contractor, Operation

We've had enough with the gun shows where you can buy from private sellers with no FBI background check.

- Dick Durbin

Gun, Private, Had Enough, FBI

We want to move forward in a bipartisan fashion to solve our problems.

- Dick Durbin

Forward, Want, Move, Move Forward

I prefer Raisin Bran. But I like the Mini-Wheats.

- Dick Durbin

Like, Prefer, Raisin

There is no question that tobacco is addictive and that tobacco kills.

- Dick Durbin

Question, No Question, Tobacco

We borrow 40 cents out of every dollar that we spend. We borrow most of it from countries like China. They have become major creditors of the United States and have more power over our economy than we want them to. So dealing with this is not only the right thing economically, it's certainly right from a moral viewpoint.

- Dick Durbin

Out, United, Our, Creditors

Our laws must be fixed to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. We have to keep speaking out for common-sense reforms. If we do, we can beat the gun lobby and save lives.

- Dick Durbin

Gun, Guns, Laws, Fixed

Every day seems to bring news about another for-profit college scam. Hundreds of thousands of students have been deceived, misled, and harassed into enrolling at these schools where they end up with a mountain of debt and a worthless degree.

- Dick Durbin

College, Every Day, Been, Harassed

Where would Monsanto be without the U.S. farm program and world-class research labs?

- Dick Durbin

World-Class, Would, Monsanto, Labs

I've been impressed with Rick Guzman and his commitment to the residents of Aurora since I first met him many years ago.

- Dick Durbin

Commitment, Been, Impressed, Rick

Having billions of dollars immediately available to plug budget holes without raising taxes is very appealing. And to the delight of Wall Street investors, state and local governments often fail to ask the important questions or consider the long-term impact.

- Dick Durbin

Questions, Very, Available, Holes

Millions of Americans take vitamins safely every day, including me. Vitamins and mineral supplements taken in recommended doses are safe. It's the designer supplements that are worrisome.

- Dick Durbin

Every Day, Including, Doses, Supplements

The swipe fee reform law that Congress enacted in 2010 was a huge step forward in bringing transparency, competition, and choice to a debit card system that had been rigged by Visa, MasterCard, and the banks.

- Dick Durbin

Law, Congress, Been, Swipe

The fact is I tried for years to work with the financial industry on reasonable swipe fee reform, but the industry wouldn't have it.

- Dick Durbin

Fact, Tried, Reform, Swipe

'Stand your ground' laws based on the ALEC model have had harmful consequences and need to be reconsidered.

- Dick Durbin

Laws, Based, Alec, Harmful

We have to really appeal to that sensible center.

- Dick Durbin

Center, Appeal, Really, Sensible

Reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions spares our planet from the well-documented degradation that we are witnessing on a global basis.

- Dick Durbin

Planet, Witnessing, Spares

We must institute reasonable, common-sense limits, such as barring those with a history of mental instability, those with a history of violent crime or adjudged dangerous and subject to restraining orders, and those whose names have been placed on a terrorist watch list from owning weapons.

- Dick Durbin

Been, Violent, Placed, Restraining

When you're talking about long-term deficit reduction, $4 trillion worth, entitlement reform needs to be part of it.

- Dick Durbin

Needs, Part, About, Entitlement

Since 2000, I have proposed changing the Constitution so that our popular vote decides the presidency.

- Dick Durbin

Constitution, Presidency, Proposed

Those of us who believe in God and those of us who have dedicated our lives to helping others in the name of God don't want to take a second seat to anyone who is suggesting that one word out of the platform means that the Democrats across America are godless.

- Dick Durbin

Believe, Helping, Our, Godless

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.