As a matter of fact, even when I finished law school, I had no notion of public service then.
David Dinkins

The people really are what make New York City great.
David Dinkins

Some of us claim that New York City is the capital of the country, indeed the capital of the world. Now, that may be a bit much for those who don't come from New York, but clearly we are an important city for reasons of our cultural advantages.
David Dinkins

The art and culture that is New York, communications, finance, all these things help make up New York. The rest of the country should be happy that we are what we are.
David Dinkins

Well, I'm not sure, but of one thing I am certain: History judges one differently than contemporary observers, and so I think that as time passes, I hope that not me personally so much, but our administration will be seen for some of the things that we accomplished.
David Dinkins

We borrowed money, it helped us with bonds and what not, and the Federal Government backed it, but it was a guarantee, it was not a grant. And we not only paid it off, but we paid it off ahead of time.
David Dinkins

So it's a mistake for someone to think that they bailed New York out. They did assist us, for which we are grateful, but it's a mistake to say we bailed New York out by giving them a grant of money to help those poor people who throw it away on welfare.
David Dinkins