Romano Prodi Quotes
He uses statistics like a drunk uses lamp-posts, more for support than illumination.
There is no known writing of Disraeli's with this quote although it is very commonly attributed to him as in this case by Mark Twain. Disraeli was even quoted earlier in 1895 by English Parliamentarian Leonard H. Courtney who said, “…the words of the Wise Statesman, "Lies— damned lies— and statistics," and although he does not mention Disraeli by name, the “Wise Statesman” was a name commonly used for the great prime minister and the timing was right. The two together make the quotation very probably attributable to Disraeli. See linked quote.
At the time Japan had a strong Fascist military wing and the army was not under the control of the civilian government. The government diplomats were less aggressive and expansionist as the military was. The Japanese diplomats would assure other governments like the United States of their peaceful intentions and then the Japanese army would do something that was completely contradictory. As the militarist wing gained domination over the government, the diplomats would strategically lie, and then claim what whatever the army did, was done be rogue officers and was not part of government policy. See {627085}.
Political polls are very important tools in modern politics. However, they can be, and often are, inaccurate. More often they are misinterpreted, and results can vary extensively depending on how a question is worded. For example, in the 2012 Presidential election Republican Mitt Romney’s polls did not tell him that he would lose by a substantial margin. He, and some of this closest staff, thought they would actually win.
Romano Prodi OMRI is an Italian politician, economist, academic, civil servant and manager who served as the 10th President of the European Commission from 1999 to 2004. He served twice as Prime Minister of Italy, first from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and then from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008. He is considered the founder of the Italian centre-left and one of the most prominent and iconic figures of the so-called Second Republic. Prodi is often nicknamed Il Professore ("The Professor") due to his academic career.
