Whenever a fellow tells me he’s bipartisan, I know he’s going to vote against me.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver. Finishing second in politics gets you oblivion.
—Richard Nixon (1913–94) American Head of State, Lawyer
The ballot is stronger than the bullet.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
An election is a moral horror, as bad as a battle except for the blood; a mud bath for every soul concerned in it.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
In times of stress and strain, people will vote.
—Unknown
The fact that a man is to vote forces him to think. You may preach to a congregation by the year and not affect its thought because it is not called upon for definite action. But throw your subject into a campaign and it becomes a challenge.
—John Jay Chapman (1862–1933) American Literary Critic, Essayist
Perhaps the fact that we have seen millions voting themselves into complete dependence on a tyrant has made our generation understand that to choose one.
—Friedrich Hayek (1899–1992) British Economist, Social Philosopher
It makes no difference whom you vote for—the two parties are really one party representing four percent of the people.
—Gore Vidal (1925–48) American Novelist, Essayist, Journalist, Playwright
The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
If elected I shall be thankful; if not, it will be all the same.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Suffrage is the pivotal right.
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906) American Civil Rights Leader
To make democracy work, we must be a notion of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
Votes should be weighed, not counted.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
The English people believes itself to be free; it is gravely mistaken; it is free only during election of members of parliament; as soon as the members are elected, the people is enslaved; it is nothing. In the brief moment of its freedom, the English people makes such a use of that freedom that it deserves to lose it.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
Always vote for a principle, though you vote alone, and you may cherish the sweet reflection that your vote is never lost.
—John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) Sixth President of the USA
No matter whom you vote for, the Government always gets in.
—Unknown
The people who cast the votes don’t decide an election, the people who count the votes do.
—Joseph Stalin (1878–1953) Soviet Leader
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
A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won’t cross the street to vote in a national election.
—Burton Hillis (William E. Vaughan) (1915–77) American Columnist, Author
Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody.
—Franklin P. Adams (1881–1960) American Columnist, Radio Personality, Author
There isn’t any finer folks living than a Republican that votes the Democratic ticket.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
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
There is no city in the United States in which I can get a warmer welcome and fewer votes than Columbia, Ohio.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
The margin is narrow, but the responsibility is clear.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
American youth attributes much more importance to arriving at driver’s license age than at voting age.
—Marshall Mcluhan (1911–80) Canadian Writer, Thinker, Educator
If God had wanted us to vote, he would have given us candidates.
—Jay Leno (b.1950) American Comedian, TV Personality
All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and wrong.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Half of the American people never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half.
—Gore Vidal (1925–48) American Novelist, Essayist, Journalist, Playwright
An election cannot give a country a firm sense of direction if it has two or more national parties which merely have different names but are as alike in their principles and aims as two peas in the same pod
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
The idea that you can merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal—that you can gather votes like box tops—is, I think, the ultimate indignity to the democratic process.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
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