Mary Frances Berry Quotes

In a democracy, as a matter of course, every effort is made to seize upon and create publick opinion, which is, substantially, securing power.

Towering over Presidents and State Governors, over Congress and State Legislatures, over conventions and the vast machinery of party, public opinion stands out in the United States, as the great source of Power.

Polling can undermine the ability of officials to lay out, debate, analyze, and implement their plans. By turning to instant [electronic] polls we would eliminate the captain and the officers and leave every shipboard decision to the passengers.

Politics determine who has the power, not who has the truth.

Look, the people will elect the government they think best.

If we had a consensus we wouldn't have to go to a referendum.

You know, we're taught that in a democracy power comes from being elected.

When politicians try to govern by raising a wet finger to the wind or on the basis of public opinion polling, the public gets to think that all leaders are interchangeable.

We ought to change polls, not to follow polls.

I trust the American people. They almost always get it right …

The public has to have a head, and if the President takes the heads away, the public will have his.

Democratic processes require time.

In our form of democracy the expression of the popular will can be effected only through the instrumentality of political parties.

This is a democracy, not a dictatorship. Polls give candidates a method to find out what voters want.

Public opinion is the most potent monarch this world knows.

You don't determine what is good policy by polling.

I can't influence how other parties choose to vote.

The voice of the majority is no proof of justice.

Politics is activity in relation to power.

Democracy is a good client.

I shall ask no more than that you agree with Dean Inge that even though counting heads is not an ideal way to govern, at least it is better than breaking them.

Politics is the art of controlling your environment.

We make a great mistake in supposing all people are capable of self-government.

Let the people think they govern and they will be governed.

I wanted the influence. In the end I wasn't very good at being a president. I looked out of the window and thought that the man cutting the lawn actually seemed to have more control over what he was doing.