William S. Burroughs Quotes

People [in politics] do go on and talk.

When I hear things like 'unpatriotic,' I just chalk it up to a lot of political rhetoric.

No politician has ever been defeated by a speech he didn’t give.

What Mr. [Robert F.] Kennedy says lacks only the merit of being true ... Bobby Kennedy can jump off the capital dome or whatever else he has to do to get the attention of the American people.

The future of politics is performance.

One of the things I hate about politicians, I shouldn't say I hate things, but one of the things I hate about politics is people who repeat the same talking point over and over and over again.

There is no such thing as a nonpolitical speech by a politician.

The political process consists entirely of politicians talking out of their butts.

Obama has been attacked repeatedly for not wearing a flag pin, with Republicans claiming that his patriotism is in question. It's all a bit silly.

I think politicians do great things in the world, but I don't think they're the only ones who can. I don't like all the rhetoric and the finger pointing.

I'm not consumed with political machinations.

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

You know the bark is worse than the bite in D.C.

I think that what most surprises anybody who goes into politics from even a modestly cerebral background is the vulgarity of much of the cut and thrust of politics.

In politics, being ridiculous is more damaging than being extreme.

I can talk a lot and not reveal anything; I would make a great politician.

Personally, I have as little to do with politicians as possible. The ones that I've met I've found very boring. They're extremely egotistical, incredibly self-important. If I can help it, I try to stay as far away from them as possible.

American politics is theatre. There is a frightening emotionalism at national conventions.

Modern political speechwriting is not a high-minded pursuit for brilliant talents.

There is a temptation in politics to look for simplistic slogans and to play the game in a way that looks like you're a savvy politician.

The nature of politics is to subtract meaning from language.

Politicians are ambitious not to make important decisions but to say important things.

In American politics, finger-pointing is an Olympic sport.

The Politician uses the language of diplomacy of which he is a master, and it consists in telling some of the truth without necessarily exhausting it.

Sometimes in politics “yes” means “maybe” and “no” means “if.”