David Dinkins quotes

David Dinkins was an American politician best known as the first African American mayor of New York City. His tenure focused on improving race relations and reducing crime in a turbulent era for the city. He is remembered for his dedication to public service and efforts to unify diverse communities. Here are 30 of his quotes:

I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law. (David Dinkins)
Today, certain people file for bankruptcy, businesses and individuals, and it no longer has the stigma it once had. Now it's almost considered wise, a way to regroup and come back again. View quote
David Dinkins
The art and culture that is New York, communications, finance, all these things help make up New York. The rest of the country should be happy that we are what we are. View quote
David Dinkins
We borrowed money, it helped us with bonds and what not, and the Federal Government backed it, but it was a guarantee, it was not a grant. And we not only paid it off, but we paid it off ahead of time. View quote
David Dinkins
So it's a mistake for someone to think that they bailed New York out. They did assist us, for which we are grateful, but it's a mistake to say we bailed New York out by giving them a grant of money to help those poor people who throw it away on welfare. View quote
David Dinkins
The people really are what make New York City great. View quote
David Dinkins
Some of us claim that New York City is the capital of the country, indeed the capital of the world. Now, that may be a bit much for those who don't come from New York, but clearly we are an important city for reasons of our cultural advantages. View quote
David Dinkins
Well, I'm not sure, but of one thing I am certain: History judges one differently than contemporary observers, and so I think that as time passes, I hope that not me personally so much, but our administration will be seen for some of the things that we accomplished. View quote
David Dinkins
Children are amazing, and while I go to places like Princeton and Harvard and Yale, and of course I teach at Columbia, NYU, and that's nice and I love students, but the most fun of all are the real little ones, the young ones. View quote
David Dinkins
You can be anything you want to be. You can be a street sweeper, if you want. Just be the best blasted street sweeper you can be . . . And, you know you can be mayor. View quote
David Dinkins
I went downtown as a lawyer and then I worked in a liquor store at night, as I had done all through law school. And so when I got to the point where I could give up the night job, I joined the political club. (David Dinkins)
But I make the observation that no one of us would do things exactly alike. View quote
David Dinkins
You can't twist Al Sharpton's arm. View quote
David Dinkins
There is no point in me worrying about what Bloomberg or Badillo will do. View quote
David Dinkins
My mother came here to New York. She and my grandmother were domestics, cooking, cleaning for other people. View quote
David Dinkins
I love children, and most of my involvement now has to do with children or youth programs. View quote
David Dinkins
And, as a matter of fact, I am the chairman of the Amadou Diallo Foundation. View quote
David Dinkins
Well, I was about six or seven, and my mother and father separated. View quote
David Dinkins
Well, I think I am a very, very lucky person. I'm very fortunate. View quote
David Dinkins
And I tell people I'm in charge of children, children I haven't even met yet. View quote
David Dinkins
I went to Israel when the missiles were falling there. (David Dinkins)
In 1975 I was among a group of blacks who formed the Black Americans in Support of Israel Committee. View quote
David Dinkins
But the courts have dismissed the lawsuits against me and Lee Brown. View quote
David Dinkins
As a matter of fact, even when I finished law school, I had no notion of public service then. View quote
David Dinkins
I finished law school in '56, but I was working two jobs. View quote
David Dinkins