John Quincy Adams Quotes

There was no imminent threat. This was made up in Texas, announced in January to the Republican leadership that war was going to take place and was going to be good politically. This whole thing was a fraud.

I never said that all Democrats were saloon keepers. What I said was that all saloon keepers are Democrats.

Refusal to answer a question by setting up a straw man to attack is a not an uncommon device of debating.

I invented the low blow. I can outdemagogue the best of demagogues.

The “cant” of the politician, like the cant of the “religious” man, is also protean in its guise, but its chief method is to explain away words. The politician can always show you that he didn’t mean what he says, but something rather different from what he says. Political cant consists in pretending to agreement with hearers, whoever they may be. This cant is part of the stock-in-trade of every politician, be he Tory, Whig, or Radical, and it is by its means that he tries to haul in stray votes.

In this war on truth we are all living in, 'hoax' is a potent, malicious, ugly little word and Trump has been using it more every year. So has Fox.

Promising something that seems popular at the time that you know you're never going to deliver - that's the kind of cynical politics that I don't want any part of.

I never said all Democrats were saloonkeepers. What I said was that all saloonkeepers are Democrats.

Machiavelli had some cold tricks for people who wanted to be demagogues and wanted to take over the world.

If attacked on some vulnerable point by anyone or anything or any organization, always find or manufacture enough threat against them to cause them to sue peace ... Don't ever defend. Always attack.

In Washington the politicians lie on the record and tell the truth off the record. In the Middle East, it’s the opposite. They lie off the record, and tell the truth on the record.

When any member is about to speak in debate, or deliver any matter to the house, he shall rise from his feet and respectfully address himself to “Mr. Speaker.”

With the use of religious and patriotic formulas, statesmen may sleep amidst the wreck of nations.

When the snake is already in the house, one need not discuss the matter for long.

Voters never grow weary of illusory promises.

Common sense is no match for political opportunism.

The whole art of a political speech is to put nothing into it. It is much more difficult than it sounds.

The mediocrity of his [Winston Churchill's] thinking is concealed by the majesty of his language.... He mistakes verbal facilities for mental inspiration.

Even for a President who is not a professional actor, misrepresentation is a part of the job. Commentators who do not bear this in mind are like critics in the audience shouting, “Tell us what you really think” at an actor who is trying to bring off his drama.

Arguments that prove too much prove nothing.

Figures won’t lie but liars will figure.

You have to be a demagogue on a lot of little things if you want to be around to have your way on the big things.

What does democracy come down to? The persuasive power of slogans invented by wily self-seeking politicians.

I think the President [George W. Bush] would mislead the American people.

Sometimes hyperbole and lying are not easily distinguishable [in politics].