Bertrand Russell Quotes

Mayors make tough decisions; Senators make tough speeches.

Time given to thought is the greatest time saver of all.

Sometimes I do have something in my head. But, for me, I think it usually ends up being about considering all of the elements, and trying to understand the distance from where we are to where we want to go.

The distinction between a statesman and a politician is that the former imposes his will and his ideas on his environment while the latter adopts himself to it.

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

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

It doesn't matter how smart you are unless you stop and think.

Whenever I think about an issue, I always argue the opposite side of it. So, when I ultimately decide on a course of action, I've already been through all the conceivable scenarios, and I'm going to go for it.

A statesman makes the occasion, but the occasion makes the politician.

Nature abhors a vacuum, even in the heads of statesmen.

Cicero most reminds me of Harold Wilson. Both men knew how to keep the show on the road.

When I watch kids play basketball, they don't know how to think the game. They know what it should look like, but they don't know why.

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

The first requirement of a statesman is that he be dull.

For instance, Clinton who was unquestionably the smartest of the bunch I talked to - both the ones who made it and didn't. He had a great interest in policy.

It must be able to assist in devising the method of solution of problems and not merely solve them.

Re-examining our reasoning is not something that has come naturally to American statesmen.

There is no single right answer or path forward, but there is one right way to frame the problem.

I think that I have very few personal gifts to bring to real politics.

I always write after I think for quite a long time, so the actual writing time is rather short. I think a lot of the work gets done when you have something on your mind while you're doing many other things.

Making good decisions is a crucial skill at every level.

Think Tank, noun: The shower.

Reason enables us to get around in the world of ideas, but cannot prescribe our thoughts.

Thought means life, since those who do not think so do not live in any high or real sense. Thinking makes the man.

Intellectuals are good at seeing the big picture. But they are not so good at process.