Ed Koch Quotes

Many of us have questions about what Trump's positions really are. We want to make sure we are on board with each other.

I want people to think through issues. I'm just tired of blind alignment.

Belonging to one party is acceptable. But my days of just ticking the party box are long over. I judge the candidates for who they are.

I haven't always voted for the same party, mostly because I find that strange. One thing I've never quite understood is when people say 'I'm a Conservative' or 'I'm Labour,' before even hearing what the person running stands for or wants to change.

I guess you'd call me an independent, since I've never identified myself with one party or another in politics. I always decide my vote by taking as careful a look as I can at the actual candidates and issues themselves, no matter what the party label.

There comes a time in every political convention where I eat my words.

I will admit no bond that holds me to a party a day longer than I agree to its principles

Don't fall in love with everything that you may have read and everything that you may have heard from any political leader, including myself.

Even though I don't agree with Donald Trump on everything, and I think there may be certain things or statements of his that I may disagree with, he is a better candidate by far than Hillary Clinton.

I think those who have followed my political life would have known that I don't believe in just blind loyalty.

It is always the task of the intellectual to "think otherwise." This is not just a perverse idiosyncrasy. It is an absolutely essential feature of a society.

No one who accepts the sovereignty of truth can be a foot soldier in a party or movement. He will always find himself out of step.

Learn to do your own thinking - don’t let other people do it for you!

I promise to question everything my leaders tell me. I promise to use my critical faculties. I promise to develop my independence of thought. I promise to educate myself so I can make my own judgments.

Think for yourself. Know what you're doing. Question authority.

When your opinions start to coincide with those of the majority, it is time to reconsider your opinions.

One of the difficulties of politics is that politicians are shocked by those who are really prepared to let their thinking reach any conclusion. Political thinking consists in deciding upon the conclusion first and then finding good arguments for it. An open mind is considered irresponsible- and perhaps it really is.

It would much conduce to the public benefit, if, instead of discouraging free-thinking, there was erected in the midst of this free country a dianoetic academy, or seminary for free-thinkers, provided with retired chambers, and galleries, and shady walks and groves, where, after seven years spent in silence and meditation, a man might commence a genuine free-thinker, and from that time forward, have license to think what he pleased, and a badge to distinguish him from counterfeits.

The human mind prefers to be spoon-fed with the thoughts of others, but deprived of such nourishment it will, reluctantly, begin to think for itself - and such thinking, remember, is original thinking and may have valuable results.

The free exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world.

Question everyone in authority, and see that you get sensible answers to your questions ... questioning does not mean the end of loving, and loving does not mean the abnegation of intelligence. Vow as much love to your country as you like ... but, I implore you, do not forget to question.

How could I be anything but a dissenter? Who wants the opinion of a group?

The whole notion of politics is they always present you with this or this or this. I’ll get a newspaper to read between the lines. Why do you have to adhere to prescribed formulas that they have and people argue over them and they’re all in a box. And you watch Fox claw CNN, and CNN claw Fox. Sometimes I catch a piece of the news and it seems insanity to me. I quietly support candidates. I’m not out there banging a drum for candidates. But I have supported a candidate and it’s a whole other world.

My fans get enough politics on TV every day. I want them to think for themselves. I don't want them to listen to me.

It requires philosophy and heroism to rise above the opinion of the wise men of all nations and races.