Diefenbaker Quotes & Sayings

In Pierre Trudeau, Canada has finally produced a Prime Minister worthy of assassination. — John Diefenbaker

I am the first prime minister of this country of neither English nor French origin. So I determined to bring about a Canadian citizenship that knew no hyphenated consideration ... I'm very happy to be able to say that in the House of Commons today in my party we have members of Italian, Dutch, German, Scandinavian, Chinese and Ukrainian origin and they are all Canadians. — John Diefenbaker

There can be no dedication to Canada's future without a knowledge of its past. — John Diefenbaker

Parliament is more than procedure - it is the custodian of the nation's freedom. — John Diefenbaker

The Conservatives over the years have done a great deal, from Sir John A, to Diefenbaker, and others. — Brian Mulroney

I am so excited about Canadians ruling the world. — John Diefenbaker

I've got all of my enemies here in the Cabinet where I can keep an eye on them. — John Diefenbaker

Everyone is against me - except the people! — John Diefenbaker

The Liberals are the flying saucers of politics. No one can make head nor tail of them and they never are seen twice in the same place. — John G. Diefenbaker

I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind. — John G. Diefenbaker

One moment it's a cathedral, at another time there is no words to describe it when it ceases, for short periods of time, to have any regard for the proprieties that constitute not only Parliament, but its tradition. I've seen it in all its greatness. I have inwardly wept over it when it is degraded. — John Diefenbaker

I have an intensive hatred for discrimination based on colour. — John Diefenbaker

I'm disturbed because the doctors tell me I'm as sound as a dollar. — John Diefenbaker

I am not anti-American. But I am strongly pro-Canadian. — John G. Diefenbaker

Some wonder why I have such a feeling of concern over the imposition of the death penalty. I ask those who wonder how would you feel if you defended a man charged with murder, who was as innocent as any hon. member in this House at this very moment, who was convicted; whose appeal was dismissed, who was executed; and six months later the star witness for the Crown admitted that he, himself, had committed the murder and blamed it on the accused? That experience will never be effaced from my memory. — John Diefenbaker

He who does not know the past can never understand the present, and he certainly can do nothing for the future. — John G. Diefenbaker

I have always been a House of Commons man. — John Diefenbaker

You can't stand up for Canada with a banana for a backbone. — John Diefenbaker

I have one love - Canada; one purpose - Canada's greatness; one aim - Canadian unity from the Atlantic to the Pacific. — John Diefenbaker

Freedom includes the right to say what others may object to and resent ... The essence of citizenship is to be tolerant of strong and provocative words. — John G. Diefenbaker

I was criticized for being too much concerned with the average Canadians. I can't help that; I am one of them! — John Diefenbaker

When you come to Parliament on your first day, you wonder how you ever got here. After that, you wonder how the other 263 members got here. — John Diefenbaker

We must vigilantly stand on guard within our own borders for human rights and fundamental freedoms which are our proud heritage ... w e cannot take for granted the continuance and maintenance of those rights and freedoms. — John Diefenbaker

We're comfortable financially, so it wasn't a financial issue that I voted Conservative. Basically, it was for the same reason we voted for Diefenbaker. First it was Mackenzie King, then St. Laurent
Christ, the Liberals were in something like 20 years in a row (22 actually)
and we simply needed a change. It was getting like a dictatorship. Whether elected or not, that's not good for the country. I didn't go to war for a dictatorship. — Don Drysdale

I've lived history. I've made history, and I know I'll have my place in history. That's not egoism. — John Diefenbaker

That one never asks a question unless he knows the answer is basic to parliamentary questioning. — John Diefenbaker