Vaclav Havel Quotes

… in politics, just as anywhere else in life, it is impossible and it would not be sensible always to say everything bluntly. Yet that does not mean one has to lie. What is needed here are tact, instinct and good taste.

It is sometimes necessary to lie damnably in the interest of the country.

Politeness is half good manners and half good lying.

Society can exist only on the basis that there is some amount of polished lying and that no one says exactly what he thinks.

You have to steer a course between not appalling people, but at the same time not misleading them.

As a governor and senator, John Chafee set the standard for honesty and decency that the rest of us on our best days could only dream to emulate.

Politeness is only one half good manners and the other half good lying.

Every leader has the responsibility to hone his or her integrity. Many times, there are integrity traps that have a tendency to catch well-meaning leaders off guard.

Twenty five years in Washington has taught me never to tell a lie to a reporter.

The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest.

The greatest virtue in a prince is to know his friends.

[Richard Nixon was:] The greatest moral leader of the last third of this century.

When I became press secretary my father sent me a telegram and said, "Tell the truth if you can and if you can't tell the truth, don't tell a lie." That became very difficult to do.

There are a lot of smart people in politics and government, but character matters ... it is terribly important that the two be melded.

If You are mighty, gain respect through knowledge and gentleness of speech. Do not command except as is fitting.

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

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

We have to be responsible in what we say as leaders.

The basis of Ronald Reagan was his humanity. I might not have agreed with his politics, but my research - all I read about him and by him - was that he was revered because he had a big heart. He was very religious and sincere. He believed that one spoke truths because, otherwise, people would know you were lying. None of that even applies to Trump.

I'm too blunt and straightforward for politics, but I'm friends with all.

I think you're a much happier person if you say 'Even if I get involved in politics, I'm only doing so in order to serve the people'. You will sleep much easier, not serving yourself, but having done your best to serve the people. Even if you have not succeeded, at least you've tried. You haven't stolen anything, and you haven't robbed the people.

I believe in absolute honesty and sensible social lies.

Statesmen exhibit five key commitments: 1) A commitment to principles above politics; 2) An ability to compromise without abandoning principle; 3) A commitment to truth over spin; 4) A commitment to courage over cowardice; and 5) A commitment, or willingness, to give up power.

I am not interested in power for power's sake, but I'm interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good.

There are actually very few US politicians who have integrity and vision.