JEAN CHRETIEN

A proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven.

You have to look at history as an evolution of society.

Deficit reduction is not an end in itself. It is the means to an end. Canadians must now decide what kind of country they want to build with the hard-won dividend.

We believe in multilateral organization. It's very important for countries like Canada to be great promoters of multilateral organizations. We have only one superpower, it happens to be a friend of ours, but to maintain the equilibrium in the world it is very important that we have these multilateral organizations like the UN or others.

If it must come to war, I argue that the world should respond through the United Nations. This is the best way to give legitimacy to the use of force in these circumstances.

If you look at only one aspect of life [taxes], maybe you would prefer living elsewhere.

I like to stand up to the Americans. It’s popular, but you have to be very careful because they’re our friends.

The best way to unite the country is to have a good national government.

A lot of mistakes [in government] are made by people with little experience.

Criminal justice should not be a show for citizens.

It is not one government or another that can solve all of the problems. It's you.

It is the duty of any member of Parliament to create jobs in his riding [district.]

Leadership means making people feel good.

The art of politics is learning to walk with your back to the wall, your elbows high, and a smile on your face.

The media are much better at keeping politicians honest and accountable. They are not willing to look the other way as they sometimes have in the past.

Trade agreements are what you make of them.

We can not go back to a situation where we are cozy with the separatists.

When it comes to budget cuts, everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.

One thing I've learned in politics—you have to make time for your family, no matter how busy you are.

The Liberal (Party) mentality is very different from the Tory mentality, because the Tory mentality is orientated to serve the big business interests.

There is nothing in our experience that can capture the fear that Israelis now live with every hour of every day, where allowing your children to go to a pizza parlor or a disco or just to play in the park can be a choice between life and death.

Some information has to remain in the privy of the office of the Prime Minister and the ministers for the proper administration of government.

Vision is not political rhetoric

Politicians of all stripes are always in danger at looking at every problem from an abstract point of view or being briefed by officials, academics, or economists who know every science but the science of human nature.

We would be in trouble as a society if there wasn't a constant pressure to make reforms and to be just.