Top 36 Quotes & Sayings by Jack Layton

Canadians can get Parliament working again. Here's how to do that: elect more New Democrats.

The responsibility of a minister is to step aside when there is a criminal investigation of the department. That protects the propriety of Parliament and of responsible government.

Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world.

There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you.

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don't be discouraged that my own journey hasn't gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope.

We have this historic problem that we have a quarter of our population, the people of Quebec, who have never signed on to the Constitution. That can't go on forever.

I played a lot of squash for a lot of years.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.

Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let's continue to move forward.

Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me.

I'd put it this way: Canadians want politicians to work together on their behalf. So that's what I'm committed to doing. I think it's been the goal of every NDP leader. Because we had a profound belief that we could do a good job on behalf of Canadians... if we were given that opportunity.

People that go through serious illness - you can either go one way or the other. You can either become despondent about it all. Or it kind of rejuvenates you, makes you focus on what's important.

A prime minister's job is to make sure the government works for those who have elected him, and not for big corporations.

I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world.

If I've tried to bring anything to federal politics, it's the idea that hope and optimism should be at their heart.

I believe how I live my life every day is my act of worship.

I believe that when Paul Martin cancelled affordable housing across this country it produced a dramatic rise in homelessness and deaths due to homelessness. I've always said I hold him responsible for that.

Ideas are always more important than money.

If it's a flash it's been an awfully long flash. I've been around for 20 years in one of the largest media and political markets in the country, so I'd call it more of a slow burn.

We want to challenge the established ideas with new ideas.

Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

Cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey.

So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

Are we allowed to sing? I imagine that at times, it might improve the tone of the debate.

You can wait forever for perfect conditions or you can make do with what you have.

Well, I say it's time to take Stephen Harper to the woodshed!

I think Paul Martin doesn't mean what he says. He said he would clear this sort of thing up and he didn't do it.

Always have a dream that will outlast your lifetime.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world's environment. We can restore our good name in the world.

I don't know why we'd need so many more prisons when the crooks seem so happy in the Senate.

Some people think the NDP may want to get rid of the monarchy but I can assure you that that's absolutely not the case. My Dad was a big time monarchist and so am I.

Politics matters. Ideas matter. Democracy matters, because all of us need to be able to make a difference.

I've always favoured proposition over opposition. But we will oppose the government when it's off track. We'll support positive suggestions that we'll bring forward and support the government when it's making progress.

Free speech is one of our fundamental principles and it's pretty hard to speak freely when people are yelling at you when it's your turn. That would never be allowed in a classroom or in any other kind of meeting.

Don't let them tell you it can't be done.

When you're sick, you present your medicare card, not your credit card.