Tom Coburn Quotes

Of all our public men of today he stands first in my reverence & admiration, & the next one stands two-hundred-&-twenty-fifth. He is the only statesman we have now. ... Cleveland drunk is a more valuable asset to this country than the whole batch of the rest of our public men sober. He is high-minded; all his impulses are great & pure & fine. I wish we had another of this sort.

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

There are, believe it or not, good politicians.

In 'Profiles in Courage,' my grandfather, John F. Kennedy, praised leadership that put country above party, elevated principles over petty politics and promoted progress before personal interests.

It has been my honor to support and work with President Barack Obama, a man who has brought courage and character to the presidency. President Obama's strength of character leads him to do the right thing, even when it isn't the easy thing.

There are too many politicians in the world and too few statesmen.

Statesmanship is harder than politics. Politics is the art of getting along with people, whereas statesmanship is the art of getting along with politicians.

Public business … must always be done by somebody…. If wise men decline it, others will not; if honest men refuse it, others will not.

No high qualities of statesmanship are expected from a Congressman.

A disposition to preserve and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman.

I have never and never will do anything for the sake of popularity; he that steers by any other compass than his own sense of duty may be popular, but cannot be an honest and ... useful public servant.

The distinction between a statesman and a politician is that the former imposes his will and his ideas on his environment while the latter adopts himself to it.

Men say that I am a saint losing myself in politics. The fact is that I am a politician trying my hardest to be a saint.

I have seen in the Halls of Congress more idealism, more humaneness, more compassion, more profiles of courage than in any other institution that I have ever known.

I suppose that an honest man shines more in politics than he does elsewhere.

Pubic business must be done. It will be done one way or another. If wise men refuse it, others will not. If honest men refuse it, others will not.

An honest man in politics shines more there than he would elsewhere.

He is not a … politician who would sacrifice his soul for office; he is not a member of Congress who would promise anything to win a second term. He represents all that is best in American manhood involving integrity of character, a sane mind, and the loftiest of motives.

When you are in politics, and you are a genuine person who genuinely cares, then everything comes second.

I have become the chief minister not with a selfish motive.

If my acceptance of the office of Governor would serve my country, though my administration would be attended with the loss of personal credit and reputation, I would cheerfully undertake it.

I have seen in the Halls of Congress more idealism, more humanness, more compassion, more profiles of courage than in any other institution that I have ever known.

A politician ought to be born a foundling and remain a bachelor.

A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country.

I could never be a career politician, because I believe in telling the truth.