A majority is always better than the best repartee.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Growing older, I have lost the need to be political, which means, in this country, the need to be left. I am driven into grudging toleration of the Conservative Party because it is the party of non-politics, of resistance to politics.
—Kingsley Amis (1922–95) English Novelist, Poet
Politics is just like show business. You have a hell of an opening, coast for a while, and then have a hell of a close.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
Politics is far more complicated than physics.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
I do not deny that there may be other well-founded causes for the hatred which various classes feel toward politicians, but the main one seems to me that politicians are symbols of the fact that every class must take every other class into account.
—Jose Ortega y. Gasset (1883–1955) Spanish Critic, Journalist, Philosopher
A politician never forgets the precarious nature of elective life. We have never established a practice of tenure in public office.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
The politician who never made a mistake never made a decision.
—John Major (b.1943) British Head of State
In politics we presume that everyone who knows how to get votes knows how to administer a city or a state. When we are ill… we do not ask for the handsomest physician, or the most eloquent one.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
In politics, as on the sickbed, people toss from side to side, thinking they will be more comfortable.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
I always considered statesmen to be more expendable than soldiers.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
The abjection of our political situation is the only true challenge today. Only facing up to this situation in all its desperation can help us get out of it.
—Jean Baudrillard (1929–2007) French Sociologist, Philosopher
The newspaper reader says: this party will ruin itself if it makes errors like this. My higher politics says: a party which makes errors like this is already finished—it is no longer secure in its instincts.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Idealism is the noble toga that political gentlemen drape over their will to power.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Satirist, Short Story Writer
The Tories in England had long imagined that they were enthusiastic about the monarchy, the church and beauties of the old English Constitution, until the day of danger wrung from them the confession that they are enthusiastic only about rent.
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
I was really too honest a man to be a politician and live.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Until you’ve been in politics you’ve never really been alive; it’s rough and sometimes it’s dirty and it’s always hard work and tedious details. But, it’s the only sport for grown-ups all other games are for kids.
—Unknown
Unlike presidential administrations, problems rarely have terminal dates.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
The politician is like an acrobat: he keeps his balance By saying the opposite of what he does.
—Maurice Barres (1862–1923) French Writer, Politician
A politician thinks of the next election; a statement of the next generation. A politician looks for the success of his party; a statesman for that of his country. The statesman wishes to steer, while the politician is satisfied to drift.
—James Freeman Clarke (1810–88) American Clergyman, Author
I am under the impression that in nine out of ten cases I deal with windbags who do not fully realize what they take upon themselves, but who intoxicate themselves with romantic sensations. From a human point of view this is not very interesting to me, nor does it move me profoundly. However, it is immensely moving when a mature man.
—Max Weber (1864–1920) German Sociologist
Practical politics consists in ignoring facts.
—Henry Adams (1838–1918) American Historian, Man of Letters
In the domain of Political Economy, free scientific inquiry meets not merely the same enemies as in all other domains. The peculiar nature of the material it deals with, summons as foes into the field of battle the most violent, mean and malignant passions of the human breast, the Furies of private interest.
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.
—Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American Actor, Comedian, Singer
A liberal is a man who is willing to spend somebody else’s money.
—Carter Glass (1858–1946) American Politician, Publisher
I have always felt that a politician is to be judged by the animosities he excites among his opponents.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
I tell you folks, all politics is applesauce.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Alliance. In international politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted in each other’s pockets that they cannot separately plunder a third.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
My brother Bob doesn’t want to be in government—he promised Dad he’d go straight.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
There is a certain satisfaction in coming down to the lowest ground of politics, for we get rid of can’t and hypocrisy.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
In statesmanship get the formalities right, never mind about the moralities.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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