S. I. Hayakawa Quotes

Events in America show the extent to which democracy there is fuelled by populism - Barack Obama's victory is a manifestation not of Washington's need for change, but of America's. That is not how democracy works in England.

…the Senate, a small body of egos…

Politics can bring a lot of happiness, but you can also experience a lot of unhappiness.

We Republicans came to Washington to change it, and Washington changed us.

When I ran for the Senate, I ran to bring change to Washington, not simply to become a woman senator.

I like the House. The House is where you can effect the most change. It's such a fast-moving dynamic body compared to the Senate.

This arrogance thing... I've had that my whole life. I flip between, 'Oh really? Oh, thank you. Wow. That's amazing' and, 'Yeah! Of course I am.' They're both varying degrees of a self-defence mechanism. It can be from minute to minute that I change.

Two truths are all too often overshadowed in today's political discourse: Public service is a most honorable pursuit, and so is bipartisanship.

I've been a political junkie for a long time. I find the way Washington works is just fascinating to me.

I shook Obama's hand and I said, 'I want to be your friend.' My hand is still outstretched. I am not Obama's enemy, but it's difficult not see imperialism in Washington. Those who don't see it don't want to see it, like the ostrich.

I want to thank the people of Texas for asking me to represent them in Washington.

My goal is to reach out to communicate every day, whether I'm in Washington or in the congressional district. In Washington, the best opportunity to do that is on the House floor. It's both a responsibility and an opportunity. I enjoy, every day, taking to the House floor to address an issue or event that is significant for constituents.

I thought I was God's gift to mankind and the greatest Irishman since George Best.

Like it or not, the people of Arkansas sent me to Washington to represent them in this great body.

Everything's viewed with a political lens in Washington, and that's just the nature of the beast, and it is what it is.

We live in a world in which politics has replaced philosophy.

I learned that Congress is a place with more heart than courage; there are more good souls in Washington than brave ones. I learned that the whole is not always the sum of its parts: that what you put in doesn't always match what you get out.

Ultimately, you change the culture in Washington only one way, and it's one election at a time, with the character of the people you send.

When I was a little girl, I got 'Time' magazine every week, and I wanted my face on the cover, but I've changed a lot since then.

Washington lawyers and politicians have been bedfellows from the moment our nation was conceived.

Any person would like a line item veto if the chief executive at that time agrees with their particular views.

Life in Washington is pressure.

[Warren] Harding didn't like being a Senator; he liked being in the Senate.

It does take courage to be in public life.

The senator who is driving you crazy today may be with you tomorrow.