Quotes About Politics

CBS's Major Garrett writes in 'National Journal' about a new version of the 'stray voltage' theory of communication in which the president purposefully overstates his case knowing that it will create controversy.

But just as they did in Philadelphia when they were writing the constitution, sooner or later, you've got to compromise. You've got to start making the compromises that arrive at a consensus and move the country forward.

We live in a society in which spurious realities are manufactured by the media, by governments, by big corporations, by religious groups, political groups. I ask, in my writing, 'What is real?' Because unceasingly we are bombarded with pseudo realities manufactured by very sophisticated people using very sophisticated electronic mechanisms.

I stay out of politics because if I begin thinking too much about politics, I'll probably... drop writing children's books and become a political cartoonist again.

The Twist was a guided missile launched from the ghetto into the heart of suburbia. The Twist succeeded, as politics, religion and law could never do, in writing in the heart and soul what the Supreme Court could only write on the books.

In our time political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible.

I was very involved in political satire, and I'd been writing parody for 'Mad' and 'National Lampoon,' so I made up some strange story about Gerald Ford.

I always believe writing is an indispensable part of one's political armoury.

There's no need to hear gossip about government. It'll only give you gas.

Não se pode separar as particularidades da sua vida da política.

When Churchill was running for office for the first time, he went door to door to ask for votes. He knocked on the door of an irritable man who, when Churchill introduced himself, said, "Vote for you? Why, I'd rather vote for the devil!" "I understand," answered Churchill. "But in case your friend is not running, may I count on your support?

The whole dream of democracy is to raise the proletariat to the level of stupidity attained by the bourgeoisie.

Bouvard thought: 'Ah, progress, what a farce!' He added: 'And politics, what a filthy mess!' 

Republicanul îi guverna cu asprime. Om al teoriilor, nu preÈ›uia decît masele È™i se ar?ta f?r? mil? fa?? de indivizi./ Le républicain les gouvernait durement. Homme de théories, il ne considérait que les masses et se montrait impitoyable pour les individus. (©BeQ)

Patriotism is a kind of religion; it is the egg from which wars are hatched. [ My Uncle Sosthenes ]

You have the army of mediocrities followed by the multitude of fools. As the mediocrities and the fools always form the immense majority, it is impossible for them to elect an intelligent government.

Le peuple est un troupeau imbécile, tantôt stupidement patient et tantôt férocement révolté. On lui dit : «Amuse-toi.» Il s'amuse. On lui dit : «Va te battre avec le voisin.» Il va se battre. On lui dit : «Vote pour l'Empereur.» Il vote pour l'Empereur. Puis, on lui dit : «Vote pour la République.» Et il vote pour la République.

And this is what Lord Byron said, who, nevertheless, loved women: 'They should be well fed and well dressed, but not allowed to mingle with society. They should also be taught religion, but they should ignore poetry and politics, only being allowed to read religious works or cook-books.

Dans le royaume des aveugles les borgnes sont rois. Tous ces gens-là, voyez-vous, sont des médiocres, parce qu'ils ont l'esprit entre deux murs, – l'argent et la politique. – Ce sont des cuistres, mon cher, avec qui il est impossible de parler de rien, de rien de ce que nous aimons. Leur intelligence est à fond de vase, ou plutôt à fond de dépotoir, comme la Seine à Asnières.

The greater the difficulty of the change, the greater the need for enchantment. Factors that cause friction include expense, risk, and "politics." If a change is a big deal, then it's a big deal to make it happen.

No self-respecting right-wing populist movement in India can succeed without targeting the Muslims as alien to the nation.

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron'.

Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.

Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule—and both commonly succeed, and are right.