Bill Clinton Quotes

A private sin is not so prejudicial in the world as public indecency.

Scandal is an absolute nightmare in politics.

It is the public scandal that offends; to sin in secret is no sin at all.

I've dodged bullets but there's no scandal in my life.

Clinton lied. A man might forget where he parks or where he lives, but he never forgets oral sex, no matter how bad it is.

Scandal is the first weapon, the most continuous one, and the last weapon used against a woman anywhere, and particularly one of … prominence

If you tell everybody that you like me better than [Richard M.] Nixon, I'll be ruined at home.

One stumble is enough to deface the character of an honorable life.

In Washington, and wherever two or more politicians may gather, he who does not get caught has ‘character’ and he who gets caught has none..

I'm alright with people making up stuff about me, but not when there's a woman involved.

A man without honour is one who steals or deceives people, but he remains an honourable man even if he has sexual relations with three-quarters of the earth's women. As for a woman, she may kill or steal, but she will be considered honourable so long as she preserves her hymen, without which she loses all honour

The people of this country do not mind fornication but they loathe adultery.

What is this "Watergate?

I think [Lady Astor] is seriously rattled by the “Cliveden Set” allegations which were made against her before the war, and now wants to live them down.

I did not have sexual relations with that woman–Miss Lewinsky.

There's no negative to this except I might lose the [Democratic presidential] nomination to Bob Kerry .... Because he's single, nobody cares who he's screwing.

The story in its facts and in its inferences is totally inaccurate. Gary Hart will not dignify it with a comment because it's character assassination. It's harassment. He's offended and he's outraged. He's furious. He's a victim. Someone has got to say at some point that enough is enough.

I could not lose [his gubernatorial race] unless I was caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy.

Moral character has now some influence in our elections, but not that place which it deserves. The law of public opinion excludes confirmed sots, and persons judicially convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors against the State; but it ought to render the election of all profane swearers, notorious Sabbath breakers, seducers, slanderers, prodigals and riotous persons, as well as the advocates of dueling, impracticable.

… the most hated and calumniated man of his times.

My clothes, my stockings, my wigs were a matter of public discussion …. Columnists asked me about anything and everything—except my job. Women's magazines and women's pages featuring articles about me—sometimes without bothering to interview me. Cartoonist delight in sketching me and my clothes and swelling girth. and always the whispers and speculation about my sex life—how much, and with whom.

Falsehood and delusion are allowed in no case whatsoever. But, as in the exercise of all the virtues, there is an economy of truth.

In public, as well as private life, the only way to prevent being ridiculed or censured, is to avoid all ridiculous or wicked measures, and to pursue such only as are virtuous and worthy. If any man thinks he has been ridiculed, upon any of our public theatres, let him examine his actions he will find the cause, let him alter his conduct he will find a remedy

In 1857 the Divorce Act was passed, and, as is well known, set up by law a different moral standard for men and women. Under this Act which is still in force a man can obtain the dissolution of the marriage if he can prove one act of infidelity on the part of his wife; but a woman cannot get her marriage dissolved unless she can prove that her husband has been guilty both of infidelity and cruelty.

Scandals are only increased by hushing them up.