Politics

Explore 256 quotes about Politics

Whatever each man can separately do, without trespassing upon others, he has a right to do for himself; and he has a right to a fair portion of all which society, with all its combinations of skill and force, can do in his favor.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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Topic

Freedom Human rights Political theory Politics

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Reflections on the Revolution in France

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1790 1790s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France. London: James Dodsley, 1790.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Reflections on the Revolution in France." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I am not a crook.

Richard Nixon

More information about this quote

Topic

Watergate Political scandals American politics Politics

Speaker

Richard Nixon

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Statement Type

Lies

Language

English

Time

1973 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Nixon, Richard. Associated Press Managing Editors Annual Conference. 17 Nov. 1973, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Orlando, FL. Q and A Session.

It was the remark of a Roman consul in an early period of that celebrated Republic that a most striking contrast was observable in the conduct of candidates for offices of power and trust before and after obtaining them, they seldom carrying out in the latter case the pledges and promises made in the former.

William Henry Harrison

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison

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Topic

Campaign promises Politics

Speaker

William Henry Harrison

Source

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1841 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Harrison, William Henry. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1841, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

How small, of all that human hearts endure,
That part which laws or kings can cause or cure!

Oliver Goldsmith

Read The Traveller at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Activist government Government Political theory Politics The human condition

Author

Oliver Goldsmith

Source

The Traveller

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1765 1760s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Goldsmith, Oliver. The Traveller; or, a Prospect of Society. London: John Newbery, 1764.

To sin by silence when we should protest makes cowards out of men.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

More information about this quote

Topic

Standing up for what's right Courage Cowardice Protest Politics

Author

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Source

Poems of Problems

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1914 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Wilcox, Ella Wheeler. "Protest." Poems of Problems. W. B. Conkey Company, 1914.

The judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and the executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that.

John Adams

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Topic

Checks and balances Political theory American politics Politics

Author

John Adams

Source

Thoughts on Government, Applicable to the Present State of the American Colonies

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Adams, John. Thoughts on Government, Applicable to the Present State of the American Colonies. Philadelphia: John Dunlap, 1776.

Current Citation

Adams, John. "Thoughts on Government, Applicable to the Present State of the American Colonies, April 1776." John Adams: Revolutionary Writings 1775-1783, edited by Gordon S. Wood. Library of America, 2011.

The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation.

Jeremy Bentham

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Topic

Utilitarianism Political theory Politics Moral theory Morality

Author

Jeremy Bentham

Source

Memoirs of Bentham The Works of Jeremy Bentham

Language

English

Time

1832 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Bentham, Jeremy. "Memoirs of Bentham." The Works of Jeremy Bentham, edited by John Bowring. Vol. 10, London: Simpkin, Marshall & Co., 1843.

We must push as hard as they push, and then push a little stronger.

Harvey Milk

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Topic

Fighting for justice Activism Politics

Speaker

Harvey Milk

Source

Bay Area Reporter

Medium

Interview

Language

English

Time

1977 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Milk, Harvey. "Harvey Speaks Out." Bay Area Reporter, 8 Dec. 1977.

The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative on the day after the revolution.

Hannah Arendt

The New Yorker

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Topic

Revolutionaries Revolution Conservatism Political theory Politics

Author

Hannah Arendt

Source

Reflections on Civil Disobedience The New Yorker

Medium

Essay Magazine

Genre

Political literature

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

English

Time

1970 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Arendt, Hannah. "Civil Disobedience." Crises of the Republic. Vintage, 1972. Originally published as "Reflections on Civil Disobedience" by The New Yorker, 12 Sept. 1970.

You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.

Rahm Emanuel

More information about this quote

Topic

2008 Financial Crisis Political strategy American politics Politics

Speaker

Rahm Emanuel

Language

English

Time

2008 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Emanuel, Rahm. Quoted in "In Crisis, Opportunity for Obama." Written by Gerald F. Seib. Wall Street Journal, 21 Nov. 2008.

Well, as I said, this is a man's world, Jeff, and you gotta check your ideals outside the door like you do your others.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

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Topic

Ideals in politics Politics

Speaker

Senator Joseph Paine

Actor

Claude Rains

Source

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Medium

Film

Genre

Political (film) Comedy drama (film) Political Comedy drama

Language

English

Time

1939 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Directed by Frank Capra, Columbia Pictures, 1939.

Listen, the only people we hate more than the Romans are the fucking Judean People's Front!

Monty Python's Life of Brian

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Topic

Anti-imperialism Political infighting Revolutionary politics Politics

Speaker

Reg

Actor

John Cleese

Source

Monty Python's Life of Brian

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (film) Comedy

Language

English

Time

1979 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Monty Python's Life of Brian. Directed by Terry Jones, Handmade Films/Python (Monty) Pictures, 1979.

The use of force alone is but temporary. It may subdue for a moment; but it does not remove the necessity of subduing again: and a nation is not governed which is perpetually to be conquered.

On Conciliation with America

More information about this quote

Topic

Use of force Civil unrest Political theory Politics

Speaker

Edmund Burke

Source

On Conciliation with America

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1775 1770s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Conciliation with America." House of Commons. 22 Mar. 1775, Palace of Westminster, Westminster, London, England, UK.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Gratitude, like love, is never a dependable international emotion.

Joseph Alsop

More information about this quote

Topic

International politics Political theory Politics

Author

Joseph Alsop

Source

Observer

Medium

Newspaper

Language

English

Time

1952 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Alsop, Joseph. Quoted in The Observer. 30 Nov. 1952.

One of the nuisances of the ballot is that when the oracle has spoken you never know what it means.

Lord Salisbury

More information about this quote

Topic

Voting Politics

Speaker

Lord Salisbury

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1877 1870s 19th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Lord Salisbury. Renfrew by-election speech. Oct. 1877, UK.

Hope has never trickled down. It has always sprung up.

Studs Terkel

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Topic

Hope Political progress Politics

Author

Studs Terkel

Source

Hope Dies Last

Genre

Historical literature

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

2003 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Terkel, Studs. Hope Dies Last: Keeping the Faith in Difficult Times. New Press, 2003.

We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.

Elie Wiesel

Nobel Prize Lecture, 1986

Read this speech at nobelprize.org

More information about this quote

Topic

Political neutrality Standing up for what's right Oppression Politics

Speaker

Elie Wiesel

Source

Nobel Prize Lecture, 1986

Medium

Nobel Prize Lecture Speech

Language

English

Time

1986 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Wiesel, Elie. Acceptance speech. Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. 10 Dec 1986, Oslo City Hall, Oslo, Norway.

Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.

Reinhold Niebuhr

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Topic

Democracy Political theory Human nature Politics

Author

Reinhold Niebuhr

Source

The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1944 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Niebuhr, Reinhold. The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1944.

We campaign in poetry. But when we're elected we're forced to govern in prose.

Mario Cuomo

More information about this quote

Topic

Campaign promises Political campaigns Politics

Speaker

Mario Cuomo

Medium

Lecture

Language

English

Time

1985 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Cuomo, Mario. "E Pur Si Muove." Chubb Fellowship lecture. 1 Feb. 1985, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.

Negotiations are a euphemism for capitulation if the shadow of power is not cast across the bargaining table.

George Shultz

More information about this quote

Topic

Negotiation Power Political theory International politics Politics

Speaker

George Shultz

Source

Moral Principles and Strategic Interests: The Worldwide Movement Toward Democracy

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1986 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Shultz, George. "Moral Principles and Strategic Interests: The Worldwide Movement Toward Democracy." Landon Lecture Series. 14 Apr. 1986, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.