Mo Udall Quotes

In politics you can't afford to be too knowledgeable about things like that.

TR was a very practical politician, and it was partly from watching him sympathetically that I lost some of my contempt for politicians …

Some presidents, such as Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy, are political sailors - they tack with the wind, reaching difficult policy objectives through bipartisan maneuvering and pulse-taking.

Persistence in one opinion has never been considered a merit in political leaders.

Having studied politics doesn't necessarily give you political nous.

Former President Bill Clinton, who is widely regarded as a political mastermind, may have sounded like a traditional liberal at the beginning of his term in office. But what ultimately defined his presidency was his amazing pliability on matters of principle.

Ronald Reagan knew audiences. It was a key element of his political genius. One of the things at which brilliant politicians are better than mediocre ones is smelling new public concerns over the horizon before they are picked up by polls - before the public even knows to call them 'issues' at all.

I will deal with the politicians in a political way and with the nonpoliticians in a nonpolitical way.

F.D.R. achieved greatness not by means of imposing his temperament and intellect on the world but by reacting to what the world threw at him.

A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground.

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

People may have their opinions about Senator Helms, but he was highly effective and he took care of his constituency. I learned all those lessons from him, and I bring a great deal to the table because of that.

A statesman who keeps his ear permanently glued to the ground will have neither elegance of posture nor flexibility of movement.

One of the reasons for the survival of the ANC (African National Congress) over such a long period, is their ability to steal other people's programs, and to adapt to situations. As extraordinary adaptation to a policy which previously they opposed, and then they realize its merits, and then adjust and it comes out as a different policy. That has been the characteristic of the ANC, for which they've been criticized historically, as being inconsistent. But it's that which enabled them to survive to a ripe old age, and they are still doing it.

He has the best political mind of all the generals I have.

To tell the truth, I'm more comfortable now that the amateurs are back in charge [of the White House].

Finality, Sir, is not the language of politics.

If my son enters politics, I will be able to guide him. He too would have learnt a lot from watching me, so he is less likely to make mistakes.

I would love to believe that my political judgment is impeccable, but it's not.

I hear from people all the time and it infuriates me that 'President Obama's a brilliant politician.' No he absolutely is not.

What we need and have not got at Westminster are real experience and wisdom, possessed by people who do not view politics as a career.

We are not politically naive.

Every politician must be able to keep both feet on the fence with his ear to the ground.

Things change. There has to be flexibility. Let me give you an example. President Xi, we have a, like, a really great relationship. For me to call him a currency manipulator and then say, “By the way, I'd like you to solve the North Korean problem,” doesn't work. So you have to have a certain flexibility, Number One. Number Two, from the time I took office till now, you know, it's a very exact thing. It's not like generalities.

There seldom is enmity between seasoned old politicians, who know as much as men can of human weakness and human strength.