Barbara Tuchman Quotes

In the absence of a crisis, the status quo in Washington is more or less set in cement, as advocacy groups and turf-conscious government officials are able to thwart change.

Ideology isn’t driving the dynamic in Washington, it’s the desire to stay in power.

A conservative government survives essentially by dampening expectations and subduing hopes. Conservatism is basically pessimistic, reformism is basically optimistic.

The challenge has been, we make policy in the world of politics.

In Wisconsin, I led the Assembly to a balanced budget in face of fierce opposition from the status quo.

Shortly afterwards my father told me that he might be going into the Eastern Zone of Germany. At that time my own mind was closer to his than it had ever been before, because he also believed that they are at least trying to build a new world.

It is always a disappointment to turn from forthright consideration of some subject - whether from the Left or the Right, a poet or a plumber - to the Beltway version, in which the only aspects of the issue that matter are the effects it will have on the fortunes of the two parties and the various men in power.

I believe people who go into politics want to do the right thing. And then they hit a big wall of re-election and the pettiness of politics. In the end, politics gets in the way of the business of people.

We have to struggle against the conservatives from all sides, not only the right-wingers, but also the left-wing conservatives who don't want to change anything.

In Washington, 'delay' is too often code for 'derail.' Wink, wink.

We've got a thousand lobbyists in thousand dollar suits giving you a thousand reasons we can't change.

This country is going so far right you are not even going to recognize it.

Beginning reform is beginning revolution.

Conservatism, by all means, if there is anything worth conserving, and everything not worth losing. Revolution, if there is nothing worth conserving, and everything worth gaining. These are the class lines upon which the political battle is being fought, and is bound to be fought

I hate to tell you, but it's not always pretty up there on Capitol Hill

In politics, good gets better; bad gets worse.

We are becoming too much of a gaff-centric political culture.

I underestimated in this town, the degree to which politics trumps problem solving.

We [Republicans] don’t need any new ideas.

Britain is no longer in the politics of the pendulum, but of the ratchet.

We want traditional change—not transformational change.

People want to cut the childish political posturing. With the problems facing the country, our campaigns have become an embarrassment to democracy.

Most governments and people want reform. It’s the prospect of change that makes reform rare.

Progress is never accepted by everybody.

These reforms will not be popular with everybody—especially those who are doing just fine under the present system.