Tony Benn Quotes

I do believe the most important thing I can do now is to help young people understand the past and prepare for the future.

I thought I'd grow up to be a teacher, or maybe run for political office.

There are too many politicians in the world and too few statesmen.

When you're out of office, you can be a statesman.

Any politician is to a certain degree a mentor. They preach something.

A politician is a man who understands government. A statesman is a politician who's been dead for 15 years.

Now I know what a statesman is; he's a dead politician. We need more statesmen.

Politicians are probably the most underrated people in our society.

A statesman is a politician who’s been dead ten or fifteen years.

Public service is a noble career. You can’t do it unless you get out there and run…. You can make a difference if you are elected.

While not all politicians are statesmen, all statesmen are politicians.

Boy Governor

Public life is regarded as the crown of a career, and to young men it is the worthiest ambition. Politics, is still the greatest and most honorable adventure.

I got a lot of respect for Nancy Pelosi. I love her. She was a mentor of mine.

I certainly hope that we can all continue to be forces for good after leaving the White House.

I was in civil society long before I was ever in politics or my husband was ever even elected president.

I was in the classroom four days after the inauguration, because I said to Joe when we got elected, 'Joe, I really want to continue to teach.' And he said, 'Absolutely. You should be doing what you love.' Politics - that's Joe's life, really, his love. But teaching is mine.

The first lesson of politics or, at least, democracy is that it is a government by the people and for the people, isn't it? What makes the person a big leader or a big name is only what the person has done for the people.

I feel like my role is to be one of those voices who reaches the youth.

Throughout my life, I've always believed that the sole purpose of public service is to improve the lives of the people around us. From the Freeport Town Council to serving as Speaker of the State House, I've kept that sense of purpose close to my heart - consistently and passionately asking myself how we make progress.

My father didn't make us fighters, he made us teachers.

At our best, we are all teachers

What motivated me to dedicate myself to public service for nearly two-thirds of my life was the chance to produce results for those people who entrusted me to be their voice and their champion.

Make no mistake about it: Next to parents and families, our teachers are the most important influence in our children's lives.

I don't want to come to Washington to be just another vote. I want to lead on issues that are important.