E. J. Dionne Jr. Quotes

I’m the first to say that I’ve no idea what I’m doing. There is no manual here for how to be mayor.

The success of an elected official is doing what everyone knows needs to be done.

At the moment I am a little bit politician, yes. I think that could be my next step. It is not because I want power, it is because of what I think I could do for the people.

Good ideas are the backbone of good government.

Being a cabinet minister is not like running a company. A country is not a company.

While not all politicians are statesmen, all statesmen are politicians.

More is required of public officials than slogans and handshakes and press releases. More is required. We must hold ourselves strictly accountable. We must provide the people with a vision of the future.

The purpose of a politician is to be a leader. A politician has to lead. Otherwise he's just a follower.

I never doubted that I would be a good mayor. I never did.

Yes, I'm your governor now. I'll take care of you.

So I think democracy, in the long-term, in our countries will survive if it comes to be associated with leadership, will not survive if democracy plus media brings to us more and more followship rather than leadership.

Bangalore now wants a person who doesn't only play politics. Bangalore needs a problem solver, and I am a problem solver. I will be the bridge between Bangalore and the Centre.

Politics is about accountability, it is about leadership, it is about courage.

Public service is a noble career. You can’t do it unless you get out there and run…. You can make a difference if you are elected.

It does take courage to be in public life.

To govern is to chose.

When the mayor's concerned about something, eveybody's concerned about it.

Governing is about selecting.

Good government

Once you've been a mayor, you look to try to get things done.

Governing has always been hard.

I think we can do better with our politicians. I think I'd make a good one, because I like people.

I'll be the mayor of all the people.

I just want to do a good job as mayor.

Mayors are accountable. Local governments are accountable.