Jeff Fortenberry Quotes

Powerful Jeff Fortenberry for Daily Growth

About Jeff Fortenberry

Jeff Fortenberry is an acclaimed American novelist, poet, playwright, and politician, renowned for his lyrical prose and evocative storytelling that often explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Born on June 15, 1962, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Fortenberry grew up in a family deeply rooted in the arts. His mother, Marilyn (Bergman) Fortenberry, was an artist and his father, William Fortenberry, was a journalist. The family's artistic influence played a significant role in shaping Jeff's creative trajectory. Fortenberry attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He continued his academic journey at the University of Iowa, earning an MFA in Creative Writing. His literary career began with the publication of his first book, " Between Here and the Yellow Sea" (1996), a collection of short stories that showcased his unique storytelling abilities. In 2001, Fortenberry published his debut novel, "East of the River of Dreams," which was followed by "The Dogs of Heaven" in 2004. Both novels were critically acclaimed for their richly-drawn characters and poetic language. In 2008, Fortenberry ventured into playwriting with " The Johnsonian Laws," a series of plays based on the life of Benjamin Franklin. In addition to his literary pursuits, Fortenberry has also been active in politics. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Nebraska's 1st congressional district from 2005 until 2021. Despite stepping down from political office, Jeff Fortenberry continues to contribute to literature, leaving a lasting impact on readers with his evocative and thought-provoking works.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Wisdom is knowing the right path to walk; integrity is taking that path."

This quote by Jeff Fortenberry suggests that wisdom refers to understanding the correct course of action, while integrity is about following through on that understanding, regardless of any personal gain or convenience. It implies that having both wisdom and integrity is crucial for living a principled life.

"Courage isn't the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear."

This quote by Jeff Fortenberry suggests that courage doesn't mean one is devoid of fear, but instead, it reflects the decision to prioritize values or goals over feelings of fear. It emphasizes that fear is a normal human emotion, but when confronted with situations requiring action or decision-making, valuing those actions or decisions more highly than the fear can lead to courageous behavior.

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well."

This quote suggests that the primary objective in life is not personal happiness but rather striving to be useful, honorable, compassionate individuals who positively impact society. Living a meaningful life involves making a difference, not only for oneself but also for others, through integrity, kindness, and positive contributions. It encourages individuals to live intentionally with purpose and dignity.

"Leadership is a choice, not a title."

This quote emphasizes that leadership is not merely about holding a position or title; it's about making a conscious choice to lead. It suggests that anyone can demonstrate leadership qualities regardless of their formal role in an organization or community. Leadership is a mindset, an action, a behavior—it's about inspiring and guiding others towards a shared vision or goal. The implication here is that one doesn't have to wait for a promotion or title change to be a leader; they can choose to lead at any given moment by taking responsibility, showing initiative, and making a positive impact on those around them.

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function."

This quote by Jeff Fortenberry emphasizes the value of mental flexibility and cognitive agility, particularly in the face of conflicting ideas or viewpoints. The ability to maintain a balanced perspective without compromising one's functionality demonstrates a high level of intelligence. It suggests that true intelligence is not just about possessing knowledge but also about navigating complex situations with open-mindedness and adaptability.

Considering community support and cost-benefit analysis, I have supported earmarks for projects of high public purpose involving such areas as higher education, alternative energy, transportation, medical research and military infrastructure.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Education, Medical, Projects, Considering

I belong to the political party that generally fits my philosophical beliefs, but I reserve the right to vote my conscience after careful deliberation. My voting record reflects this.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Conscience, Belong, Careful, Reserve

Simply looking at the status quo and suggesting that the tax code is sacrosanct and can never change, and that decisions made in the '80s and '90s can never change, is absurd.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Change, Made, Code, Status Quo

I used to be on the Lincoln City Council. You learn that there's never enough money for all of the police officers and fire-fighting apparatus you'd like to have.

- Jeff Fortenberry

City, Learn, Police Officers, Enough Money

People need to make their voices heard in an orderly fashion.

- Jeff Fortenberry

People, Need, Voices, Orderly

The tax code is weighted toward the ultra-wealthy and ultra-wealthy corporations and has created an offshore aristocracy of people who can afford to hire an army of accountants and lawyers. This shifts the tax burden to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and others.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Small, Lawyers, Code, Shifts

It's particularly incumbent in the Middle East on Sunni Arab nations to fight for values, to fight for the protection of innocent life, to fight for the principles of civilization and stability and order itself.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Middle, Particularly, Sunni

There's nothing wrong in America that can't be fixed by what's right in America.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Wrong, Nothing, Right, Fixed

The House of Representatives should not be locked down by the decided play of a few in leadership.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Leadership, Play, Decided, Locked

What Trump has done is tap into a deep-seated anxiety about where the country is headed. There is an anxiety that is real and sincere. Many people feel helpless.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Country, Trump, Tap, Helpless

I wanted the opportunity to play for Tom Osborne. Here we are in the locker room at half-time, gathering around Coach Osborne. It grows quiet, and I'll never forget what he said. He said, 'Let's get this over with.'

- Jeff Fortenberry

Play, Here, Around, Locker Room

While the agreement provides a level of constraint on Iran's nuclear weapons program, it confers legitimacy on their nuclear threshold status, an unprecedented shift for a country with so many entanglements.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Country, Level, Agreement, Constraint

The promise of peace seems very far away, but you keep working steadily with good and uplifting attitudes, and that's sometimes tough in the environment we're in.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Away, Attitudes, Very, Steadily

There is a need for a vision that's compelling and uplifting, especially in a time when people are worried. At the same time, in this era, hard work and lofty rhetoric are not going to compel you to the presidency.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Need, Going, Compelling, Uplifting

People can transcend and overcome their differences and be very easily bonded.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Differences, Overcome, Very, Transcend

The strong arm of government should not force Americans to buy health-care products that they have reasoned objections to.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Strong, Government, Buy, Arm

Based on my experience, I believe that Ben Sasse has the right policy background, a notable commitment to public service - and, perhaps most importantly, the courage - to help renew our country.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Country, Importantly, Ben, Renew

A rapidly expanding Syrian refugee policy could create conditions for domestic tragedy.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Domestic, Expanding, Syrian, Refugee

You want stability in the world, you have to start with values.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Values, World, Want, Stability

I reserve the right to survey the national political landscape for candidates at all levels who reflect a proper understanding of our national security, economic security, and family security - the ideals of social conservation, the heart and strength of our country.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Strength, Political, Country, Survey

If one group of people can exterminate another in the name of so-called religion, the world has no hope.

- Jeff Fortenberry

World, Name, Another, So-Called

To simply demand that Assad go, and create a vacuum, could make the circumstances worse. To 'protect' Assad and his brutality is unconscionable. So you have to have a transition period here.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Circumstances, Here, Period, Transition

Communities are suffering, children are suffering, and our immigration policy appears in disarray.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Children, Immigration, Communities

I'm proud to be able to represent Bellevue and the Offutt and StratCom communities.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Proud, Able, Represent, Communities

We must continue to foster relevant and constructive dialogue among Israeli and Palestinian communities.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Continue, Relevant, Among, Communities

Donald Trump has not yet earned my vote. And I'm not simply going to say 'never,' because I do not want to empower Hillary Clinton.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Going, Trump, Donald, None

I would like to see Donald Trump lay out specifics on an economic agenda that are realistic, that are small-business focused.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Like, Trump, Donald, None

When you're just focused on nutrition and hunger, that's a harder, harder lift in isolation.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Nutrition, Focused, Lift

Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery. It is a scourge for humanity, and America must project its values and protect vulnerable persons.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Values, Project, America, Scourge

Christians, Yezidis, and other religious minorities have every right to remain in their ancestral homelands.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Other, Religious, Christians, Ancestral

Some states like Nebraska have thus far responsibly managed their budgets, even in tough times, and I could not ask Nebraskans to pay for poor governance elsewhere.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Some, Like, Thus, Responsibly

Respect and a gentlemanly character - those are marks of a Nebraskan.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Respect, Character, Those, Marks

The consequence of shutting down the government was not healthy.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Government, Consequence, Shutting

Government has a rightful role, but not an excessive role, to play.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Government, Play, Role, Excessive

The high-flying rhetoric of 'Making America Great Again' frankly appeals to me. It appeals to many people. But you've got to back that up with substance, and you've got to quit offending people who may not agree with you.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Making, May, Offending, Appeals

For Nebraska and for America, I will continue my commitment to our national security, economic security, and family security.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Commitment, Will, Nebraska

We want a faithful Catholic businessman not to have to provide a service he finds unethical.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Service, Provide, Finds, Catholic

So many young people are coming out of a generation that has experienced deep woundedness and brokenness, and they are full of life. They are eager to engage. They care about community, and they care about one another.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Deep, Generation, Eager, Experienced

You cannot classify a whole group of people based upon their religion and determine their intent. That's not fair. It's not American.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Not Fair, Classify, Based, Intent

We're living in a time where I think most people are wanting someone to invite them respectfully to a policy position, not try to just slash and burn the other person.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Think, Burn, Wanting, Slash

We need a new health care architecture that will reduce costs, improve outcomes, and protect vulnerable persons.

- Jeff Fortenberry

New, Costs, Reduce, Protect

Shifting loyalties in the Middle East make it difficult to vet supposed moderate groups.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Middle East, Middle, East, Moderate

My responsibility is to make judgments about hard, complex issues that I believe to be right.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Responsibility, Complex, Judgments

What if we thought of health and security in retirement as one basket?

- Jeff Fortenberry

Thought, Security, Basket, What If

Congress must demonstrate fiscal responsibility.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Congress, Must, Fiscal, Demonstrate

You cannot deny reality: that ISIS is systematically attempting to exterminate Christianity, to exterminate the Yazidi community, to exterminate other religious minorities in vast areas in Iraq and Syria.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Religious, Attempting, Deny, Exterminate

By keeping your eye on the ultimate goal, you lean into the mess and try to make the outcome a little better.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Goal, Ultimate Goal, Keeping, Outcome

We need to reinstate the idea of federalism.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Need, Idea, Federalism

My degree in theology was an important part of my formation.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Important, Degree, Part, Theology

I thought incorporating Columbus and Platte County into the 1st District was a good idea.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Thought, Good Idea, Idea, District

I don't fund county roads.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Roads, County, Fund

We need to stop this overspending. We need to start turning this battleship in the right direction. And we all have to share in the sacrifice.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Sacrifice, Start, Need, Right Direction

From all indications, the Offutt runway replacement is not a matter of 'if.' It is a matter of 'when.'

- Jeff Fortenberry

Matter, Replacement, Runway

I came west for opportunity. I made Lincoln my home.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Made, Lincoln, Came, I Came

Fiscal discipline can turn the economy around.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Discipline, Turn, Economy, Fiscal

That sacred space of conscience where you can exercise your rights in terms of religious freedom and deeply-held, reasonable beliefs is the core of human dignity. In fact, that's the basis for civilization itself. And when you lose that fundamental principle... you have no basis on which to build.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Fact, Religious, Principle, Core

Christianity in the Middle East is shattered. The ancient faith tradition lies beaten, broken, and dying.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Broken, East, Shattered, Tradition

With the consent of the people, I will seek to continue service in Congress for the well-being of our state and our nation.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Well-Being, Will, Congress, Consent

Iraqis must fight for their own country.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Country, Own, Must, Iraqis

It is my belief there is too much concentration of power and spending in Washington.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Concentration, Spending, Too, Washington

The responsible use of earmarks can have public benefits.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Benefits, Use, Public, Responsible

My first responsibility is to keep America safe.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Responsibility, Keep, First, Safe

The strength of the nation ultimately depends upon the strength of family and community.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Strength, Nation, Depends, Ultimately

If it comes out of Congress, I think it has traction in America.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Think, Out, I Think, Congress

No one should have to live in fear.

- Jeff Fortenberry

Live, Should, Fear

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