Ed Koch Quotes

I like to think that I’m one of the few people in public life who write their own material. I write every word. And I really enjoy writing – especially my political commentary.

God gave me a very good hand to play over my 88 years. I have no regrets.

You want me to tell me the truth or do you want me to stroke you?

To learn something new every day is still exciting!

We’re in the hands of the state legislature and God, but at the moment, the state legislature has more to say than God.

I probably enjoy campaigning more than most other people in public office because I like people and I enjoy going out there and telling people what I’ve done.

When all are wrong, everyone is right.

The mere process of growing old together will make the slightest acquaintance seem a bosom friend.

If you listen to Giuliani, it’s like nobody did anything to improve the city except him. I’m not part of the history. Bloomberg’s not part of the history. It’s like, he did it. He’s the only one. That’s why he’s a little crazy.

I was drafted into the Army when I was 19 and came out at age 22. Most people that I knew didn’t think they’d come home alive. I didn’t think I would either, so I was happy when I did.

I have a social life. But I don’t discuss it.

It happens that I’m heterosexual, but I don’t care about that. I do care about protecting the rights of 10 percent of our population who are homosexual and who don’t have the ability to protect their rights.

I’m confident President Obama will continue his unambiguous commitment to the Jewish state in his second term.

Water, water, everywhere, Atlantic and Pacific. But New York City’s got them beat, Our aqua is terrific!

There’s a nastiness out there that wants to harm me with words. These are my enemies – the ideologues, the populists, the columnists who don’t like the fact that I take them on toe-to-toe. What I try to do is tell the truth. It’s not the coin of the realm in politics.

I’m not the type to get ulcers. I give them.

The person who is bent on killing you will follow you wherever you are.

In action be primitive; in foresight, a strategist.

How’m I doing?

I love being the mayor. I want to be the mayor forever.

You punch me, I punch back. I do not believe it’s good for one’s self-respect to be a punching bag.

I was born at the age of twelve on a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lot.

There’s enormous energy required to carry grudges – enormous energy! And I’m getting too old to expend my energy that way, cause I think every person has a limited amount of energy. So I have given up all grudges.

Jews have always thought that having someone elevated with his head above the grass was not good for the Jews. I never felt that way. I believe that you have to stand up.

I said, to be a New Yorker you have to live here for six months, and if at the end of the six months you find you walk faster, talk faster, think faster, you’re a New Yorker.

People get tired of you. So they decided to throw me out. And so help me God, as the numbers were coming in, I said to myself, ‘I’m free at last.’

I don’t believe that in our society that we should have guns.

Stereotypes lose their power when the world is found to be more complex than the stereotype would suggest. When we learn that individuals do not fit the group stereotype, then it begins to fall apart.

I never doubted that I would be a good mayor. I never did.

If you don’t like the President, it costs you 90 bucks to fly to Washington to picket. If you don’t like the governor, it costs you 60 bucks to fly to Albany to picket. If you don’t like me – 90 cents.

If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.

Citizens, thank you for all your birthday wishes. I am 88 years old today and still lucky to live in the greatest city in the world.

I think that every Saturday, we ought to say, ‘My father’s a Jew, my mother was a Jew, and I’m a Jew,’ with great pride.

I enjoyed my stay in the Congress. Most people do not. And too many people who have been elected really don’t understand the nature of government.

You don’t have to love them. You just have to respect their rights.

Clinton has more important things to worry about. He not only risks being destroyed historically, like Afghanistan’s Buddha statues; he also could end up going to jail.

I changed the city of New York. I gave people back their morale.

In a neighborhood, as in life, a clean bandage is much, much better than a raw or festering wound.

Deals are my art form. Other people paint beautifully on canvas or write wonderful poetry. I like making deals, preferably big deals. That’s how I get my kicks.

Have you ever lived in the suburbs? It’s sterile. It’s nothing. It’s wasting your life.

The art of creation is older than the art of killing.

No, I am not a homosexual. If I were a homosexual, I would hope I would have the courage to say so. What’s cruel is that you are forcing me to say I am not a homosexual. This means you are putting homosexuals down. I don’t want to do that.

Twelve years ago, if someone attacked me, I wouldn’t let them get away with it. I’d take them on. I now perceive my job to include allowing people to vent their rage.

The best way to lose weight is to close your mouth – something very difficult for a politician. Or watch your food – just watch it, don’t eat it.