Andrew Cuomo Quotes

I believe public education is the new civil rights battle and I support charter schools.

There was never a war on poverty. Maybe there was a skirmish on poverty

As my Sicilian grandfather used to say, you get more flies with honey than with vinegar, right?

We need marriage equality in every state in this nation. Otherwise, no state really has marriage equality, and we will not rest until it is a reality.

I believe women still face a glass ceiling that must be shattered.

I am against the death penalty.

I believe we need to attract a new generation of the best and brightest to public service and I believe that government can be a source of inspiration, not degradation.

The time has come to return integrity, performance and dignity to New York and make it the Empire State once again.

I respect the state workers and I respect their unions, but we simply can't afford to pay benefits and pensions that are out of line with economic reality.

The essential job of government is to facilitate, not frustrate, job development

People go into politics because they want the affirmation, and they want the applause.

Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay? Is that who they are? Because if that's who they are and they're the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York.

I am fiscally prudent and socially progressive. I believe in protecting a woman's right to choose. I believe in marriage equality.

I never thought I would be divorced.

New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance. The New York State government was at one time a national model. Now, unfortunately, it's a national disgrace. Sometimes, the corruption in Albany could even make Boss Tweed blush.

I believe discrimination still exists in society and we must fight it in every form.

There's no such thing as a 100-year flood.

The Declaration of Independence says when government fails, the people have the right to replace it. Well, New York State government has failed and the people have the right, indeed the people have the the people have the obligation, to act.

I believe Wall Street needs serious ongoing regulation.

I know how bad Albany is. I know it better than most. I understand why people are angry. I'm angry. The question is going to be, how do you change Albany, what is the plan for change, and then how do you actually get it done?

The need to understand prescription information can literally be a matter of life and death.

The other states look to New York for the progressive direction. New York made a powerful statement [legalizing marriage equality], not just for the people of New York, but for people all across this nation.

I've been not only articulating the dissatisfaction with Albany, I've been acting on it. I've been very aggressive in bringing public integrity cases and public corruption cases and bringing cases against sitting legislators

There's a rhythm to the legislative session and there are rhythms to legislative sessions. So I think that's very important to take into consideration when you are deciding what to do when.

My father was against the death penalty, and that was hard in the Son of Sam summer when fear was driving the desire for the death penalty.

I believe global warming and climate change are real threats to our planet.

New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance.

If I'm breathing in 2016, I'll be happy.

There is energy and power in a crisis.

To be clear... no one is above the law.

Too often government responds to the whispers of lobbyists before the cries of the people.

It's time for the people of the Empire State to strike back.

There is no dispute that Albany needs to be changed. There is no dispute that the current situation in Albany is untenable. Nobody knows that better than I do.

Showed good business judgment, knowing that these continued lawsuits would be the untimely death of the gun industry.

A governor can be a very good friend to people. A governor can be a formidable force.

If there's a silver bullet in the battle to recapture Albany, it is the re-engagement of our citizens. This capital has become a physical metaphor for the isolation and alienation of our people.

Anyone who says there is not a change in weather patterns is denying reality.

I'm going to change everything you believe about HUD.

I don't know people who don't say 'boy, the government is working better now.'

I'm a harsh critic of the status quo.

There is also something called the Legislature. There is something called the press. There is something called people. These are all different players on the stage.

I'm running for governor; I'm not running for a legislative office.

I want to be the candidate placed on the ballot by the people, not the party.

People who assume I want to run for elected office may be dealing from a bad assumption.

I think there's a lot to learn from Rockefeller on how to pass legislation.

I did experiment with marijuana when I was a youth.

I think naturally my orientation is from my father.

I'm a Queens boy at the end of the day.

Lesson from Pataki's success is: Use the political moment.

Fight as hard as you can, and then understand there's going to have to be some amount of reasonable compromise.