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Explore 1184 quotes by Politicians

It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.

James Madison

Federalist 62

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Topic

Legal theory

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 62 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 62: The Senate." Independent Journal, 27 Feb. 1788.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 62: Qualifications of members; election; equal representation; size and duration in office." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or to lose.

Lyndon B. Johnson

1963 Thanksgiving Day Speech

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Topic

The past The future Tomorrow Clean slate

Speaker

Lyndon B. Johnson

Source

1963 Thanksgiving Day Speech

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1963 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Johnson, Lyndon B. Thanksgiving message. 28 Nov. 1963, Washington, DC, USA.

The destruction of our state governments or the annihilation of their control over the local concerns of the people would lead directly to revolution and anarchy, and finally to despotism and military domination. In proportion, therefore, as the general government encroaches upon the rights of the states, in the same proportion does it impair its own power and detract from its ability to fulfill the purposes of its creation.

Andrew Jackson

Second Inaugural Address of Andrew Jackson

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Topic

Excessive federal power Federalism American politics

Speaker

Andrew Jackson

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Andrew Jackson Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1833 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Jackson, Andrew. "Second Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1833, House Chamber, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

A pen is certainly an excellent instrument to fix a man's attention and to inflame his ambition.

John Adams

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Topic

Writing

Author

John Adams

Medium

Personal journal

Language

English

Time

1760 1760s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Adams, John. Diary entry. 14 Nov. 1760.

We have stood apart, studiously neutral.

Woodrow Wilson

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Topic

World War I

Speaker

Woodrow Wilson

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1915 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Wilson, Woodrow. "Third Annual Message." US Congress meeting. 7 Dec. 1915, United States Capitol, Washington, DC, USA.

The divide of race has been America's constant curse. And each new wave of immigrants gives new targets to old prejudices... These obsessions cripple both those who hate and of course those who are hated, robbing both of what they might become. We cannot, we will not, succumb to the dark impulses that lurk in the far regions of the soul everywhere. We shall overcome them.

Bill Clinton

Second Inaugural Address of Bill Clinton

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Topic

Race relations Prejudice and bias

Speaker

Bill Clinton

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Bill Clinton Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1997 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Clinton, William J. "Second Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1997, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Riches are for spending.

Francis Bacon

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Topic

Purpose of money Money

Author

Francis Bacon

Source

Of Expense Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral

Medium

Essay

Language

English

Time

1625 1620s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Bacon, Francis. "Of Expense." Essayes or Counsels, Civill and Morall. London: John Haviland, 1625.

Current Citation

Bacon, Francis. "Essays, or Counsels, Civil and Moral (1625): Of Expense." Francis Bacon: The Major Works, edited by Brian Vickers. Oxford University Press, 2008.

He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual, he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world's believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good dispositions.

Thomas Jefferson

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Topic

Lying

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Source

Letters of Thomas Jefferson

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1785 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Peter Carr. 19 Aug. 1785.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Peter Carr, Aug. 19, 1785." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

Democracy and socialism are means to an end, not the end itself.

Jawaharlal Nehru

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Topic

Political theory Politics Means and ends

Author

Jawaharlal Nehru

Language

English

Time

1960 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Nehru, Jawaharlal. "The Basic Approach." AICC Economic Review, 15 Aug. 1958.

What a glorious morning is this.

Samuel Adams

On hearing gunfire at Lexington, 19 April 1775.

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Topic

American Revolution Revolution

Speaker

Samuel Adams

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1775 1770s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Adams, Samuel. Comment upon hearing the gunfire at the Battle of Lexington. 19 Apr. 1775, Lexington, MA, USA.

Things in life will not always run smoothly. Sometimes we will be rising toward the heights—then all will seem to reverse itself and start downward. The great fact to remember is that the trend of civilization itself is forever upward; that a line drawn through the middle of the peaks and the valleys of the centuries always has an upward trend.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Fourth Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Topic

Theory of progress Political progress Progress Political theory

Speaker

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Source

Fourth Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1945 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "Fourth Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1945, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "Fourth Inaugral Address: Washington, DC, January 20, 1945." Great Speeches, edited by John Grafton. Dover, 1999.

We are now forming a republican government. Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.

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Topic

Setting up a government Democracy Safeguards of freedom Political theory

Speaker

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Debates of the Federal Convention

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. Debates of the Federal Convention. Constitutional Convention. 26 June 1787, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Different interests necessarily exist in different classes of citizens. If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be insecure.

James Madison

Federalist 51

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Topic

Minority rights Political faction Political theory Politics

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 51 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 51, The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments." New York Packet, 8 Feb. 1788.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 51: How to maintain: make the parts check each other. Also, a federal system divides power further.--Madison (or Hamilton)." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Much has been given us, and much will rightfully be expected from us. We have duties to others and duties to ourselves; and we can shirk neither. We have become a great nation, forced by the fact of its greatness into relations with the other nations of the earth, and we must behave as be seems a people with such responsibilities.

Theodore Roosevelt

Second Inaugural Address of Theodore Roosevelt

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Topic

Internationalism American foreign policy American power America and the world

Speaker

Theodore Roosevelt

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Theodore Roosevelt Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1905 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Roosevelt, Theodore. "Second Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1905, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Nowhere in the world is presented a government of so much liberty and equality. To the humblest and poorest amongst us are held out the highest privileges and positions. The present moment finds me at the White House, yet there is as good a chance for your children as there was for my father's.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Land of opportunity American Dream Social mobility

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Speech to the 148th Ohio Regiment

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1864 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Speech to the 148th Ohio Regiment." 31 Aug. 1864, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Speech to 148th Ohio Regiment, Washington, D.C, August 31, 1864." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

Is man an ape or an angel? My Lord, I am on the side of the angels.

Benjamin Disraeli

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Topic

Nature of man Man and animals

Speaker

Benjamin Disraeli

Source

Speeches of Benjamin Disraeli

Medium

Speech

Statement Type

Question

Language

English

Time

1864 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Disraeli, Benjamin. Speech about meanings and origin of on the side of the angels. Oxford Diocesan Conference. 25 Nov. 1864, Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, England, UK.

We were proclaiming ourselves political hypocrites before the world, by thus fostering Human Slavery and proclaiming ourselves, at the same time, the sole friends of Human Freedom.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Slavery Freedom Hypocrisy American politics

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Speeches of Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1854 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Speech at Springfield, IL. 4 Oct. 1854, Springfield, IL, USA.

Irritated by no literary altercation, animated by no public debate, heated by no party animosity, I read it with great satisfaction, as the result of good heads prompted by good hearts, as an experiment better adapted to the genius, character, situation, and relations of this nation and country than any which had ever been proposed or suggested.

John Adams

Inaugural Address of John Adams

On the U.S. Constitution.

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Topic

US Constitution

Speaker

John Adams

Source

Inaugural Address of John Adams Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1797 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Adams, John. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1797, House Chamber, Congress Hall, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

I'm not sitting here because I'm some little woman standing by my man, like Tammy Wynette. I am sitting here because I love him and I respect him, and I honor what he's been through and what we've been through together.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

More information about this quote

Topic

American politics Infidelity

Speaker

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Source

60 Minutes

Medium

Interview TV program

Language

English

Time

1992 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Clinton, Hillary. Interview on 60 Minutes. CBS-TV, 26 Jan. 1992.

That inflexible and uniform adherence to the rights of the Constitution, and of individuals, which we perceive to be indispensable in the courts of justice, can certainly not be expected from judges who hold their offices by a temporary commission.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 78

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Topic

Rule of law The judiciary

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Federalist 78 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 78: The Judiciary Department." The Federalist, A Collection of Essays." New York: J. and A. McLean, 1788.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. 78: Duration in office: good behavior. Why needed.--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.