Adlai Stevenson I Quotes

If you will refrain from telling any lies about the Republican Party, I'll promise not to tell the truth about the Democrats.

I will make a bargain with the Republicans. If they will stop telling lies about Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.

If the Republicans will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.

Truth telling in politics is the mark of an inexperienced politician.

Living in Washington, you can't take politics too seriously. I draw the line at honesty. I have no time for political hacks who say things they don't believe because they get paid to.

You can be a namby-pamby leftie, a gun-toting neo-con, or a soft, indecisive moderate. I really don't care. Just don't lie to me.

Both parties act in their political self-interest. Indeed, that's the purpose of a political party. But unlike Democrats, at least Republicans are honest about it.

In the 13 months I've been in the Senate, it has become apparent to me the single thing that Republican politicians hate and fear the most, and that is when they're forced to tell the truth. It makes their heads explode.

Some Democrats deserve to be criticized.

I think the truth is always interesting, but with politicians, you don't get to see much of that.

The Democrats are as much a part of the war machine as the Republicans. We can't let Democrats get off the hook because they're Democrats.

Lincoln was right about not fooling all the people all of the time. But the Republicans haven't given up trying.

One of Mitt Romney’s spokespeople said, “we will not be dictated to by the fact checkers”. What that really means is “we will not be dictated to by the facts.” But the changing demographics is a fact. The Republicans may not compromise with the Democrats, but they are going to have to compromise with reality.

All governments lie, including our own—under Democrats and Republicans.

There's nothing more oily and cynical in politics than telling the truth.

I have been thinking that I would make a proposition to my Republican friends... that if they will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.

You know, everybody knows some of what politicians say is malarkey, and having somebody there to call them on it is good. I'd be happy to do that any time and any place.

I've been studying the Constitution for myself but also as a way for me, as a Democrat, to comprehend the Right. I think it's important that people who are politically active understand both sides.

In the old days, the media is who held people accountable when they lied in politics. That isn't happening anymore.

I've decided to cut out the part of the speech where I say anything nice about Democrats.

If you tell the truth you get into trouble, and that's why politicians are extremely dull.

For Democrats, nothing is any less complex than a 'West Wing' episode.

In politics, there's a kind of literal-mindedness. It's what you say, not what you mean, and you have to say only what you mean.

Do you think it's possible to discuss politics without preaching?

Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word.