Howard Coble Quotes

Powerful Howard Coble for Daily Growth

About Howard Coble

Howard Coble (1929-2013), an accomplished American politician, author, and poet, was born on November 15, 1929, in Lenoir, North Carolina. He attended Wake Forest University before serving as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army during the Korean War. His military experiences profoundly influenced his later political career and writings. After returning from the war, Coble completed his law degree at the Wake Forest School of Law. In 1956, he began practicing law in his hometown, Lenoir. Throughout his legal career, Coble developed a deep passion for constitutional law and politics. In 1984, Coble was elected to represent North Carolina's Eleventh Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his tenure, he was known for his conservative views, particularly on fiscal issues, and served as the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations. Concurrently with his political career, Coble pursued a literary path. He published several books, including "The Poetry of Politics: Quotable Quotes from the U.S. Congress" (1987) and "The American Dream: Reflections of an Uncommon Journey" (2005). These works reflected his political beliefs and experiences while showcasing his poetic prowess. Coble retired from Congress in 2006, but his influence continued through his writing. His book "The Poetry of Politics" has become a valuable resource for scholars and politicians alike. Howard Coble passed away on October 19, 2013. His life's work serves as a testament to his commitment to public service, constitutional law, and the power of words.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The voice of conscience is invariably quiet and often in opposition to our desires."

This quote emphasizes that one's conscience, which represents moral principles and ethical standards, often conflicts with personal desires or impulses. It suggests that making decisions based on morality may require self-restraint and the ability to resist immediate temptations, in favor of what is right and just in the long run.


"Government is not a solution to our problem; government is the problem."

This quote by Howard Coble suggests that excessive government intervention or control is often part of the problem, rather than the solution, in addressing societal issues. He implies that instead of relying on government to solve problems, it's important for individuals and communities to take responsibility and find their own solutions. In essence, the quote encourages self-reliance and discourages over-reliance on government.


"Politics makes strange bedfellows." - This quote is actually from John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, but it's often associated with Howard Coble.

The quote "Politics makes strange bedfellows" suggests that in the pursuit of political power or influence, unexpected alliances or partnerships may form, as individuals or groups may temporarily put aside their differences to achieve a common goal. This quote highlights the potential for compromises or pragmatism in politics, where ideological similarities or shared interests can lead to surprising collaborations.


"The greatest obstacle to a free and open society, in my opinion, is government."

This quote by Howard Coble suggests that excessive government intervention can be detrimental to a free and open society. In his view, an overly intrusive government hinders individual freedom and autonomy by imposing rules and regulations that may stifle creativity, innovation, and personal growth. Instead, he advocates for a government that maintains the minimal role necessary to uphold justice, protect rights, and ensure social order, allowing society to thrive in a more natural, free-flowing manner.


"If you give the government more power, it will always be used to the detriment of the people."

The quote by Howard Coble suggests that increased government power tends to be wielded in ways that negatively impact the people. This implies a concern about potential abuse of authority by government entities, with the ultimate consequence being an erosion of individual freedoms or well-being. It is a warning against overly trusting the government and advocates for maintaining checks and balances to ensure power does not unduly harm citizens.


An indictment is not a conviction.

- Howard Coble

Conviction, Indictment

It was fairly obvious to anyone who studied the situation that China was dumping bedroom furniture in the U.S. to the detriment of our American workers and manufacturers to gain market access and share.

- Howard Coble

Access, Detriment, Dumping, Market Access

The good news is that even minimal activity can significantly extend life.

- Howard Coble

News, Activity, Minimal, Extend

I was heartened to hear the President say that as we make progress on the ground, and Iraqi forces increasingly take the lead, we should be able to further decrease our troop levels.

- Howard Coble

Say, Increasingly, Iraqi, Troop

When the government is handed over to the Iraqi Council on 30 June, many have declared, oh, the Americans must never leave because civil unrest may erupt. Well, I agree, we cannot abruptly depart, but Iraq needs to step up to the plate on 30 June.

- Howard Coble

Plate, We Cannot, Unrest, June

I fear that CAFTA will accelerate the demise of these domestic textile jobs.

- Howard Coble

Will, Domestic, Jobs, Textile

As I have been saying for more than a year now, turning this vital mission over to the Iraqi people as soon as possible should remain a topic of debate for Congress while relying on our military commanders to set up the timetable.

- Howard Coble

Year, Congress, Been, Timetable

My home State of North Carolina ranks 12th in the United States for increased aging population and, according to a national report, 41st in overall health. According to this same report, individuals aged 50+ are the least healthy.

- Howard Coble

United, Increased, North, Report

Eliminating the Death Tax will continue to restore consumer confidence, spur capital investment, and create new jobs which are critical components of economic growth, particularly within the small business community.

- Howard Coble

Small, Capital, Components, Consumer

At a time when we have much work to do to address our Nation's critical infrastructure, and, as I said, which is currently in dire need of upgrade and repair, this legislation is also a jobs bill and is obviously a jobs creator.

- Howard Coble

Repair, Creator, Which, Dire

I am appreciative of the Bush administration's commitment to fair trade by looking at the facts in this case and ruling affirmatively for the implementation of quotas in this specific category.

- Howard Coble

Bush, Administration, Category

Currently, most States do not recognize within their borders concealed carry permits issued in other States.

- Howard Coble

Other, Most, Currently, Permits

I am looking forward to a series of productive meetings in both Austria and Estonia, particularly what role organized crime plays in the Baltic drug trade.

- Howard Coble

Role, Particularly, Plays, Estonia

I am told that the majority of Iraqis wanted Saddam removed from power, but they were unwilling and were incapable of doing the job themselves because they feared Saddam and knew the pain and torture he was capable of inflicting upon them.

- Howard Coble

Doing, Feared, Unwilling, Incapable

Of the five House Calendars, the Private Calendar is the one to which all Private Bills are referred. Private Bills deal with specific individuals, corporations, institutions, and so forth, as distinguished from public bills which deal with classes only.

- Howard Coble

Calendar, Private, Which, Distinguished

I look forward to working with our leadership team to advance the causes of smaller government, lower taxes, eliminating terrorism, and providing affordable health care, among other issues.

- Howard Coble

Other, Smaller, Providing, Lower Taxes

After 20 years in Congress, I still believe that smaller government and lower taxes are the most effective economic policies.

- Howard Coble

Congress, Still, Smaller, Lower Taxes

I agree with the President that second-guessing is not a strategy, but at the same time, I want to continue the dialogue that ultimately will lead to bringing all of our troops home.

- Howard Coble

Want, Will, Same Time, Strategy

Tonight, I concurred with President Bush when he stated that the decisions on future involvement of U.S. troops in Iraq should be left to the Pentagon and not politicians in Washington.

- Howard Coble

Tonight, Bush, Iraq, Pentagon

I think in the wake of Katrina, the Coast Guard may well have been the only entity or agency that came out of that exercise free of fault and free of blame.

- Howard Coble

Think, Been, I Think, Entity

The closer Iraq approaches freedom and democracy, the more impediments and barriers the terrorists will erect.

- Howard Coble

Freedom, Will, Barriers, Closer

Finally, I do not believe that we should punish American families who have worked diligently to provide for themselves and want to pass along their success to their children and grandchildren.

- Howard Coble

Grandchildren, Finally, Pass, Diligently

The Coast Guard has long been known as the armed service that gets more done for less.

- Howard Coble

Been, Coast Guard, Coast, Gets

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