Where annual elections end where slavery begins.
—John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) Sixth President of the USA
The Republicans have their splits right after election and Democrats have theirs just before an election.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Those who stay away from the election think that one vote will do no good: ‘Tis but one step more to think one vote will do no harm.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I’m not an old, experienced hand at politics. But I am now seasoned enough to have learned that the hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
Votes are like trees, if you are trying to build a forest. If you have more trees than you have forests, then at that point the pollsters will probably say you will win.
—Dan Quayle (b.1947) American Head of State, Politician, Elected Rep
The ballot is stronger than the bullet.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
When the leaders choose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the state, will be of no service. They will become flatterers instead of legislators; the instruments, not the guides, of the people.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Maybe a nation that consumes as much booze and dope as we do and has our kind of divorce statistics should pipe down about “character issues.” Either that or just go ahead and determine the presidency with three-legged races and pie-eating contests. It would make better TV.
—P. J. O’Rourke (1947–2022) American Journalist, Political Satirist
Giving every man a vote has no more made men wise and free than Christianity has made them good.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Elections are held to delude the populace into believing that they are participating in government.
—Gerald F. Lieberman
If God had wanted us to vote, he would have given us candidates.
—Jay Leno (b.1950) American Comedian, TV Personality
I never vote for anyone. I always vote against.
—W. C. Fields (1880–1946) American Actor, Comedian, Writer
Football strategy does not originate in a scrimmage: it is useless to expect solutions in a political campaign.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator, Writer
Bad officials are the ones elected by good citizens who do not vote.
—George Jean Nathan (1882–1958) American Drama Critic, Editor
In every election in American history both parties have their cliches. The party that has the cliches that ring true wins.
—Newt Gingrich (b.1943) American Politician
Vote for the man who promises least; he’ll be the least disappointing.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
Perhaps America will one day go fascist democratically, by popular vote.
—William L. Shirer (1904–93) American Journalist, Broadcaster, Author
In politics women type the letters, lick the stamps, distribute the pamphlets and get out the vote. Men get elected.
—Clare Boothe Luce (1903–87) American Playwright, Diplomat, Journalist, Diplomat, Elected Rep
Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
In times of stress and strain, people will vote.
—Unknown
A straw vote only shows which way the hot air blows.
—O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) (1862–1910) American Writer of Short Stories
Which one of the three candidates would you want your daughter to marry?
—Ross Perot (1930–2019) American Businessman
The average man votes below himself; he votes with half a mind or a hundredth part of one. A man ought to vote with the whole of himself, as he worships or gets married. A man ought to vote with his head and heart, his soul and stomach, his eye for faces and his ear for music; also (when sufficiently provoked) with his hands and feet. If he has ever seen a fine sunset, the crimson color of it should creep into his vote. The question is not so much whether only a minority of the electorate votes. The point is that only a minority of the voter votes.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Voting is simply a way of determining which side is the stronger without putting it to the test of fighting
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
I’m so insane, I voted for Eisenhower. Oh yeah, well I’m so insane, I voted for Eisenhower TWICE!
—Ken Kesey (1935–2001) American Novelist, Essayist, Short Story Writer
There is no excitement anywhere in the world, short of war, to match the excitement of the American presidential campaign.
—Theodore H. White (1915–86) American Journalist, Historian, Novelist
The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.
—Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–73) American Head of State, Political leader
The only thing we learn from new elections is we learned nothing from the old.
—U.S. Proverb
Andrew Jackson was the first one to think up the idea to promise everybody that if they will vote for you, you will give them an office when you get it, and the more times they vote for you, the bigger the office.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Voting is a civic sacrament.
—Theodore Hesburgh (1917–2015) American Catholic Educator, Clergyman