Quotes About Pragmatism

The greatest enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect plan. —CARL VON CLAUSEWITZ

Poverty, Frost, Famine, Rain, Disease, are the beadles and guardsmen that hold us to Common Sense.

In the Middle East, optimism is a virtue; realism – a duty.

You worked with what you had, you did what you could, and you made choices based on need.

I'm a lifelong Democrat, but I have supported some Republicans. I'm all about results, man. If somebody can deliver, that's where I'm gonna go. It's about who can get the job done.

I do not believe in populism. I am not a supporter of radical decisions. Practice has shown that usually these are harmful.

Don't be a hero, young man. There's no percentage in it.

Perhaps that is the true definition of pragmatism – an ability to deceive oneself and so turn one's back on principle, law or custom if they stand in the way of what one wants.

IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes to be considered wrong, wicked, immoral.

The world belongs to who doesn't feel. The primary condition to be a practical man is the absence of sensitivity.

Cicero most reminds me of Harold Wilson. Both men knew how to keep the show on the road.

When a man speaks of the need for realism one may be sure that this is always the prelude to some bloody deed.

I'm not an activist by nature. I am suspicious of Utopian thinking and equally suspicious of its alternate.

We are much beholden to Machiavel and others, that write what men do, and not what they ought to do.

I don't attach importance to great speeches or philosophy.

Extremes to the right and to the left of any political dispute are always wrong.

Conservatism is the politics of reality

Liberal politics meant the politics of common-sense.

There aren't many idealists in politics.

In a Republican district I was a Republican. In a Democratic district I was a Democrat. And in a doubtful district, I was Doubtful. But I was always for Erie.

The right thing is a luxury for rich and sheltered people. For the rest of us, the only right thing is staying out of trouble and surviving as best we can.

Theodore Roosevelt offered this bit of Stoic-inspired advice: "Do what you can, with what you've got, where you are.

Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

Truth is what works.