Norm Dicks Quotes

Powerful Norm Dicks for Daily Growth

About Norm Dicks

Norm Dicks (born March 18, 1937) is an American former politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Washington state for nearly three decades, representing the 6th district from 1971 to 1995 and the 6th and 6th/5th districts from 1995 to 2013. Born in Bremerton, Washington, Dicks attended Central Washington University before receiving his law degree from Seattle University School of Law. Prior to entering politics, he served as a naval officer during the Vietnam War and worked as an attorney in private practice. Dicks began his political career as a member of the Bremerton City Council before winning a seat in the Washington State Senate in 1968. He served in the state senate until 1970, when he was elected to Congress. In Congress, Dicks established himself as a champion for environmental protection, military readiness, and economic development. He played a key role in the passage of landmark legislation such as the Clean Water Act, the Superfund Act, and the National Forest Management Act. He also worked to secure funding for projects such as the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. After retiring from Congress in 2013, Dicks continued to be active in public service, serving as a senior adviser to Governor Jay Inslee and working on various environmental and veterans issues. Throughout his career, Dicks was known for his pragmatic approach to politics and his ability to work across the aisle to get things done. He remains deeply involved in the community and is widely respected as one of Washington state's most effective politicians.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The role of government is not to solve every problem, but to recognize the problems that must be solved collectively."

This quote emphasizes a philosophy of governance where the primary function of the government is not to resolve every single issue faced by society, but rather to identify and address those problems that require collective action due to their impact on the greater community. It suggests a balance between individual responsibility and government intervention, promoting self-reliance while ensuring societal wellbeing.


"We have a responsibility to leave this world in better shape than we found it and to ensure our children and grandchildren inherit a cleaner, safer, more prosperous America."

This quote underscores the importance of sustainability, responsibility, and intergenerational equity. Norm Dicks emphasizes that as stewards of our world, we have an obligation to preserve and improve it for future generations. A cleaner, safer, more prosperous America implies a focus on environmental protection, social welfare, and economic growth, ensuring a legacy that is beneficial rather than detrimental to those who come after us.


"Education is the foundation for future success, and we must invest in it to provide every child with the opportunity to reach their full potential."

This quote emphasizes the fundamental importance of education as a cornerstone for future achievement. By investing in education, we create opportunities for all children to realize their full potential regardless of their background or circumstances. It suggests that providing quality education is not just about academics but also about empowering individuals to become successful members of society and contributing citizens. In essence, it's an acknowledgment that investing in education equips the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary for future success.


"We have to be willing to make tough decisions, but we also have to remember that those decisions affect real people."

This quote emphasizes the responsibility that leaders and decision-makers carry when making policy or strategic choices. It underscores the need for bold actions but reminds us that these decisions have tangible impacts on individuals' lives. In essence, it encourages a thoughtful approach to leadership, where we weigh the potential benefits against real-world consequences, with an understanding that our decisions shape the experiences of real people in our communities.


"Bipartisanship is not about compromise for the sake of compromise, it's about finding common ground and working together to get things done."

The quote underscores the essence of bipartisanship as a collaborative approach that goes beyond mere concessions; instead, it emphasizes seeking shared interests and working collectively to achieve mutual goals effectively. This interpretation signifies that bipartisanship is not about sacrificing principles or ideals, but rather, it's about finding areas where the common good can be advanced through joint efforts despite political differences.


These subsidies from four European governments, which include aircraft launch assistance, capital injections, debt forgiveness, have enabled Airbus to develop and range market airliners well below cost.

- Norm Dicks

Include, Injections, Which, Subsidies

The American people are going to judge the majority party here today. If they go out here and vote for this rule that allows this provision to be stricken, they are voting against the men and women in the military of our country.

- Norm Dicks

Country, Here, Against, Stricken

Overtime, hatchery fish tend to show signs of domestication and these traits adapted to the hatchery environment can make it more difficult to survive in the wild.

- Norm Dicks

Survive, More, Traits, Adapted

We are also working on the restoration of salmon runs, and we are doing a new process of mass marking with these fish so we can tell the wild fish from the hatchery fish.

- Norm Dicks

Process, Doing, New, Runs

For all of us who have been involved in the recovery efforts to bring back and strengthen wild salmon runs, we fear that this change in policy could lead to further declines in these wild stocks.

- Norm Dicks

Change, Been, Could, Runs

In 2003, the value of Airbus's orders was more than twice as much as Boeing's.

- Norm Dicks

More, Twice, Than, Orders

Last year, Congress gave the Department of Defense the authority to design a new civilian personnel system for its employees as part of the defense authorization bill.

- Norm Dicks

New, Last, Last Year, Department

The Smithsonian Institute is one of the most popular agencies of government in the United States.

- Norm Dicks

United, Most, United States, Institute

The Endangered Species Act is the strongest and most effective tool we have to repair the environmental harm that is causing a species to decline.

- Norm Dicks

Environmental, Repair, Harm, Causing

What I did was sit down with the Washington State officials, with the historic preservation people, with the tribe, the local community, the port of Port Angeles, and we worked this thing out, and we protected the tribe's interest.

- Norm Dicks

Community, Historic, Angeles, Officials

In fact, at Olympic National Park in my district, they 3 years ago had 130 summer employees they brought in for temporary work. This summer they have 25 because they cannot afford more.

- Norm Dicks

Fact, Temporary, Olympic, National Park

So when people go to the park this summer, they are not going to have the same quality of a visit. There is not going to be a ranger out on the trail to tell them about the important cultural and historic areas within the Olympic National Park.

- Norm Dicks

Tell, Ranger, Olympic, National Park

Mr. Chairman, obviously a $60 million cut in the National Endowment for the Arts would be a disaster.

- Norm Dicks

Million, Cut, Would, Disaster

The time has come for the American government to recognize the damage that has occurred to our economy, and to take firm action to curtail what I believe is both unfair and illegal foreign competition.

- Norm Dicks

Come, Damage, Occurred, Illegal

During the past 30 years, European governments have provided more than $15 billion in the form of low- and no-cost loans to Airbus for the specific purpose of developing new aircraft lines.

- Norm Dicks

Purpose, Past, New, Loans

In my own area, Hood Canal, we are working with the USGS on dealing with this oxygenation problem.

- Norm Dicks

My Own, Dealing, Area, Hood

This funding from the National Endowment for the Arts has been like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval.

- Norm Dicks

Like, Been, Funding, Seal

Over 30 years ago, Airbus was founded by a European consortium of French, German, and later Spanish and British companies to compete in the large commercial aircraft industry with U.S. companies.

- Norm Dicks

Compete, Over, German, European

More than 60,000 jobs have been lost in the commercial aviation industry in the United States since 1999.

- Norm Dicks

United, Been, United States, Aviation

I remember those great days when we were at $176 million before the Reagan Revolution came to town.

- Norm Dicks

I Remember, Town, Before, Reagan

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