William Howard Taft Quotes

It seems to be the profession of a President simply to hear other people talk.

Parliament will train your men to the manners required of a statesman; but in a much less degree to the intrinsic functions of one. To these latter, it is capable of mistraining as nothing else can. Parliament will train you to talk; and above all things to hear, with patience, unlimited quantities of foolish talk. To tell a good story for yourself, and to make it appear that you have done your work

A politician is a statesman who approaches every question with an open mouth.

I learned running the government for the Presidency, which I always thought was difficult, is even more difficult than I thought.

Rude interviewers are ten a penny, and politicians have long since learned how to cope.

Parliament will train you to talk; and above all things to hear, with patience, unlimited quantities of foolish talk.

When you're President you have to make a lot of tough decisions. You have to keep lining them up and making them.

Presidents today spend more time speaking than they do reading or thinking.

There are just some things about being president that are difficult.

President Trump is engaging and if you get your points across then he asks you questions.

Presidents have to learn how to adapt. Every president comes into the job; it's different than they expect. They must adapt.

I'm pretty much done with political commentary. I've said everything I could possibly say. I've been a big mouth for long enough.

We need someone who has the experience - and the demeanor - to be the president of the United States.

I am polite and I usually always consult them [Congressional leaders]. I don't ask their permission. I just consult them.

Every president I worked for, at some point in his presidency, would get so pissed off at the Israelis that he couldn’t speak.

What makes Trump’s behavior seem pathological is that he is the president rather than your neighbor or colleague or negotiating partner. He speaks to audiences of millions rather than to audiences of one or two, and is immediately checked by the press. No president or leader of a developed country has ever acted like him. Most politicians speak from mental (or real) transcripts, which have been carefully vetted so that they offend no one and reveal nothing. Normal presidents lie but only when they expect to be believed because the facts are hidden from the public.

People in Israel are sick and tired of the old politics.

Psychology is the only necessary skill for running for president. Trump knows psychology.

When a president doesn't know the policy, it doesn't make for a very effective leader.

When you're actually president, the spin matters a lot less.

Politics in America is like stale bread. It's so yada yada that the best among us can hardly stand it.

I'm an opposition leader. But Mr Modi is also my prime minister. Mr Modi has certain skills. He's a very good communicator.

As president, you can't just say, 'I want this,' or, 'Do that.' A president has to lead the American people to where he wants to go, and the chief of staff needs to help him get it done.

The challenge in multi-lateral negotiations is not to lose sight of one's over-arching goal in the midst of the cacophony of opinions at the bargaining table.

We need an adult in the White House. When making life-or-death, war-or-peace decisions, a president can't just pop off or lash out irrationally.