Political Wisdom

It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
--Voltaire

Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.
--Robert Byrne

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

Conservative, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.
--Ambrose Bierce

Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.
--Plato

There is no distinctly American criminal class except Congress.
--Mark Twain

I am not a member of any organized party. I am a Democrat.
--Will Rogers

State legislators are merely politicians whose darkest secret prohibits them from running for higher office.
--Dennis Miller

A statesman is any politician it's considered safe to name a school after.
--Bill Vaughan

The biggest danger for a politician is to shake hands with a man who is physically stronger, has been drinking, and is voting for the other guy.
--William Proxmire

When you're leading, don't talk.
--Thomas E. Dewey

Don't try to take on a new personality; it doesn't work.
--Richard Nixon

If your opponent calls you a liar, call him a thief.
--"Big Bill" Thompson

A cardinal rule of politics: never get caught in bed with a live man or a dead woman.
--Larry Hagman (as J. R. Ewing in Dallas)

It is dangerous for a national candidate to say things that people might remember.
--Eugene McCarthy

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