James Connolly Quotes

When a man speaks of the need for realism one may be sure that this is always the prelude to some bloody deed.

What institution is insusceptible of abuse in wicked hands?

There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience. A scoundrel may be of use to us just because he is a scoundrel.

There are probably several hundred thousand if we narrow the definition to include only those who in their search for money and power are ruthless and deceitful.

If you do not know how to lie, cheat and steal, turn your attention to politics and learn.

There will always be cheaters. It is human nature. It will never be 100 percent clean, in any sport.

Profit is sweet, even if it comes from deception.

I'm pretty calculating. I take stuff that I know appeals to people's bad sides and match it up with stuff that appeals to their good sides.

To plunder, to lie, to show your ass, are the three essentials for climbing high.

There can scarcely be a more difficult thing than to play a double game. It is dangerous, and it is at times, a nice point to draw the distinction between such a game and dishonor.

Politics. The art of governing mankind by deceiving them.

Most of the great results of history are brought about by discreditable means.

… the most corrupt of all corrupt men.

Two forms of government are favorable to the prevalence of falsehood and deceit. Under a Despotism, men are false, treacherous, and deceitful through fear, like slaves dreading the lash. Under a Democracy they are so as a means of attaining popularity and office, and because of the greed for wealth.

Sometimes you have to do bad things to get into power so you can do good things when you get there.

Political devicivness is a vice, and like many other vices, it is very attractive.

Nearly everyone who chooses to work for Donald Trump is disreputable in one way or another; Ali Baba didn't find 40 wise men in the cave. But to label everyone in Trumpworld a grifter misses important subtleties. It conflates grifters and grafters, and it ignores the crucial distinction between the two.

If you only notice human proceedings, you may observe that all who attain great power and riches, make use of either force or fraud; and what they have acquired either by deceit or violence, in order to conceal the disgraceful methods of attainment, they endeavor to sanctify with the false title of honest gains.

As readers, we sense when the game is being played for real and when something else is afoot: pride, showmanship, the pursuit of power, self-aggrandizement, revenge, making money. Not that there's anything wrong with any of that, but I dislike closing a book with the sense that I've been had.

Secrecy is the foundation of politics.

The faults of the burglar are the qualities of the financier.

We will push those crooks, those mercenaries back into the swamp.

The inquiry constantly is what will please, not what will benefit the people. In such a government there can be nothing but temporary expedient, fickleness, and folly.

Flattery in courtship is the highest insolence, for whilst it pretends to bestow on you more than you deserve, it is watching an opportunity to take from you what you really have.

Nobody speaks the truth when there is something they must have.