NationStates Jolt Archive

Political quotes

I need some quotes that express why it is essential for people to be involved in politics. Any help?

Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians.

--Chester Bowles

I saw one by Thomas Paine, about being goverened by your inferiors. Anyone know that one?

I can get you some about government itself, if that would help, but I couldn't find any about participating in it, or being politically active.

Heres one from someone you all may know, and possibly the greatest reason to be politically active.

"What luck for rulers that men do not think."

-Adolf Hitler-

Oh, nevermind, that was Plato. God, I'm stupid

Heres one from someone you all may know, and possibly the greatest reason to be politically active.

"What luck for rulers that men do not think."

-Adolf Hitler-

Oooh, I really like that.

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

“Every generation needs a new revolution.”
- Thomas Jefferson

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."
- James Madison

Oooh, I really like that.

Yeah, plus it really sinks in deep considering what he did.

Go read Aristotle for yourself.:rolleyes:

Yeah, plus it really sinks in deep considering what he did.
Mm hm. I think that when one's running for a position and one starts offing the comeptition it's a pretty good sign that something's up.

Mm hm. I think that when one's running for a position and one starts offing the comeptition it's a pretty good sign that something's up.

Well to be fair even voting for Hitler...obviously with no foresight into what he would later do, would look way more attractive to me than letting the pinko commies take over Germany. So I really dont hold it against the German volk.

I'm being *extremely* reserved here, but i figured this would help somewhat:

"See in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."-
George W. Bush, Athena Performing Arts Center at Greece Athena Middle and High School Tuesday, May 24, 2005 in Rochester, NY.
---

Apparently a pep talk on politics. Seemed appropriate.

The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.

-James Madison

(That's the quote of the day at www.thefreedictionary.com)

A witty saying proves nothing.

"People who love sausages and government should not watch either one being made"

-- Otto von Bismarck

i could be off on the exact wording, but it gets the point across.

i love Bismarck.

A witty saying proves nothing.
Oooh, good one! Who said that, man?
Wilde?

Don't know if they apply, but here's a few:

I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.-Charles De Gaulle

Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word.-Charles De Gaulle

Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed.-Mao Tse-Tung

Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.-Ronald Reagan

Under every stone lurks a politician.-Aristophanes

Now I know what a statesman is; he's a dead politician. We need more statesmen.-Bob Edwards

Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.-Douglas Adams

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.-Nikita Khrushchev

An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought.-Simon Cameron

You've got to vote for someone. It's a shame, but it's got to be done.-
Whoopi Goldberg

Oooh, good one! Who said that, man?
Wilde?

François-Marie Arouet, though you'll probably know him by his nom de plume - Voltaire.

“Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.”
- Mao Tse-Tung

"A man who builds a throne of bayonets cannot sit on it"

-- i forget :(

Mao, maybe?

"A man who builds a throne of bayonets cannot sit on it"

-- i forget :(

Mao, maybe?


William Ralph Inge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ralph_Inge) I believe.

::EDIT::

It appears the actual quote is:

A man may build himself a throne of bayonets, but he cannot sit on it.

http://www.salsa.net/peace/quotes.html

François-Marie Arouet, though you'll probably know him by his nom de plume - Voltaire.
Hmmm, synchronicity or conspiracy?

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10587467&postcount=77
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10587517&postcount=80

"A man who builds a throne of bayonets cannot sit on it"

-- i forget :(

Mao, maybe?
I don't think so, Mao was a firm believer in the powers of force of arms.

“Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed.”

-Mao Tse-Tung

A witty saying proves nothing.

I like it. Who said it?

"Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
--Winston Churchill

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.

Heres a few more good ones:

"People say I steal. Well, all politicians steal." ~ Huey P. Long

"Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates." ~ Gore Vidal

"Dictators ride to and fro upon tigers which they dare not dismount. And the tigers are getting hungry." ~ Sir Winston Churchill

"Wherever you have an efficient government, you have a dictatorship." ~ President Harry S Truman

"Politics is the art of postponing decisions until they are no longer relevant." ~ Henri Queuille

"Treaties are like roses and young girls; they last while they last." ~ Charles de Gaulle

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." ~ Evelyn Beatrice Hall (often misattributed to Voltaire)

No quotes, but I seem to remember that the Greek word for apolitical is the same as idiot.

Oh, wait, how about, "All it takes for evil to win is for good men to do nothing." I think that's pretty political.

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. 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."

— H. L. Mencken

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. 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."

— H. L. Mencken
You sure know how to truly wound a person. *nods solemnly*
Utterly accurate.