Marion Barry Quotes & Sayings

I have to admit I didn't do as much as I should have back when I was mayor, but now we're getting it done. It's not where you've been but where you're going. — Marion Barry

I read a funny story about how the Republicans freed the slaves. The Republicans are the ones who created slavery by law in the 1600's. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves and he was not a Republican. — Marion Barry

I am a great mayor; I am an upstanding Christian man; I am an intelligent man; I am a deeply educated man; I am a humble man. — Marion Barry

What right does Congress have to go around making laws just because they deem it necessary? — Marion Barry

If you take out the killings, Washington actually has a very very low crime rate. — Marion Barry

I had my bad times. But the good news is that every time this has happened I've taken full responsibility for it. I don't try to duck it, I don't try to dodge it, I don't try to bullshit about it. Truth crushed to the ground will rise again. And that's what my life has been about. — Marion Barry

We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up business and dirty shops. They ought to go. — Marion Barry

People blame me because these water mains break, but I ask you, if the water mains didn't break, would it be my responsibility to fix them then? — Marion Barry

I am making this trip to Africa because Washington is an international city, just like Tokyo, Nigeria or Israel. As mayor, I am an international symbol. Can you deny that to Africa? — Marion Barry

Our neighbors in Virginia are just as responsible for these killings as the criminals are because they won't pass strong gun [control] legislation. — Marion Barry

People have criticised me because my security detail is larger than the president's. But you must ask yourself: are there more people who want to kill me than who want to kill the president? I can assure you there are. — Marion Barry

The contagious people of Washington have stood firm against diversity during this long period of increment weather. — Marion Barry

First, it was not a strip bar, it was an erotic club. And second, what can I say? I'm a night owl. — Marion Barry

When you know more, you can do more. — Marion Barry

Aside from the murders, DC has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. — Marion Barry

Jesse ain't running nothin' but his mouth. — Marion Barry

My greatest work comes in the community. — Marion Barry

This is not a sham, not a game. This is the real stuff. — Marion Barry

There are two kinds of truth. There are real truths, and there are made up truths. — Marion Barry

I am clearly more popular than Reagan. I am in my third term. Where's Reagan? Gone after two! Defeated by George Bush and Michael Dukakis no less. — Marion Barry

The brave men who died in Vietnam, more than 100% of which were black, were the ultimate sacrifice. — Marion Barry

My personal view is very simple: What happens in your bedroom, it's up to you. If you want to use gay marriage as an affectionate kind of thing you're doing, do it. — Marion Barry

And no offense, but let's grow our own teachers, let's grow our own nurses - and so that we don't have to be scrounging around in our community clinics and other kinds of places - having to hire people from somewhere else. — Marion Barry

There is a sort of an unwritten code in Washington, among the underworld and the hustlers and these other guys, that I am their friend. — Marion Barry

The laws in this city are clearly racist. All laws are racist. The law of gravity is racist. — Marion Barry

I promise you a police car on every sidewalk. — Marion Barry