William Randolph Hearst Quotes

A politician will do anything to keep his job - even become a patriot.

I doubt whether patriotism can stand the ware and tear and temptation of the front benches in the House of Commons.

With the use of religious and patriotic formulas, statesmen may sleep amidst the wreck of nations.

Professional politicians will say anything, and they're always careful to leave themselves room to turn around and do the other.

Gentlemen have talked a great deal of patriotism. A venerable word, when duly practiced. But I am sorry to say that of late it has been so much hackneyed about that it is in danger of falling into disgrace. The very idea of true patriotism is lost, and the term has been prostituted to the very worst of purposes.

I have watched these politicians in our movement. I followed their methods and regardless of how they talk of their trade union loyalty, my experience has been that when they enter the political arena they begin by talking as politicians, and very soon thinking like politicians, to the desertion of every trade union activity they pledged themselves to become part of

Politicians have no politics.

Patriotism is easy to understand in America. It means looking out for yourself while looking out for your country.

Government has come to be a trade, and is managed solely on commercial principles. A man plunges into politics to make his fortune, and only cares that the world shall last his days.

The hazards of politics come not from campaigns and elections, as might be supposed, but rather from the nature of the creature that engages in politics. Ambition, love, jealousy, hate and the many emotions and reactions man is heir to frequently affect the course of nation and world more than principles or circumstances or events.

Our modern politicians … claim that they are too practical to be pure and too patriotic to be moral.

The cynical impudence with which the reformers have tried to manufacture an ideal statesman out of the late shady politician beats anything in novel-writing. They are making popular capital. They lie and maneuver just like candidates for office. The independents and reformers are as bad as the late lamented, and for the same reason. It pays.[

Attired in white, with socialism as bait they set out on a cynical sport… vote hunting. Secularism as fig-leaf, the political bed-switching begins. Gigolos blush.

It has now become the doctrine of a large class of politicians that political honesty is unnecessary, slow, subversive of a man's interests, and incompatible with quick onward movement.

A politician’s instinct is for self-survival.

Careerism in Washington "goes to the heart of what's wrong in America right now."

There are those who wrap themselves in flags and blow the tinny trumpet of patriotism as a means of fooling the people.

Politicians... talk in generalities and lies, and I think they've caused all our grief. They're so awful, they're really funny. I hate thinking this because my dad loved politics.

You can't blame anyone for being cynical about politicians.

I think that if politics is just about getting your backside on important seats, then it's a pretty worthless endeavor.

You know I don't really have faith in politicians - this is quite a sleazy business. But there is no law which says that all politicians will turn out to be scumbags.

The very idea of true patriotism is lost, and the term has been prostituted to the very worst of purposes. A patriot, sir! Why, patriots spring up like mushrooms!

They are patriotic in time of war because it is to their interest to be so, but in time of peace they follow power and the dollar wherever they may lead.

The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny.

In America, politicians do whatever to get re-elected, and a lot of decisions that were being made at that time by Kennedy were certain not to get him re-elected.