Political Discernment Quotes

The essential ingredient of politics is timing.

The ability to change one's views without losing one's seat is the mark of a great politician.

Mr. [Judah P.] Benjamin, unquestionably, will have great influence with the President [Jefferson Davis], for he has studied his character most carefully. He will be familiar not only with his "likes" but especially his "dislikes.

Ronald Reagan knew audiences. It was a key element of his political genius. One of the things at which brilliant politicians are better than mediocre ones is smelling new public concerns over the horizon before they are picked up by polls - before the public even knows to call them 'issues' at all.

Having studied politics doesn't necessarily give you political nous.

If you're in politics and you can't tell when you walk into a room who's for you and who's against you, then you're in the wrong line of work.

What we need and have not got at Westminster are real experience and wisdom, possessed by people who do not view politics as a career.

To tell the truth, I'm more comfortable now that the amateurs are back in charge [of the White House].

If my son enters politics, I will be able to guide him. He too would have learnt a lot from watching me, so he is less likely to make mistakes.

Jesus said, 'Judge not, lest ye be judged.' Let's stop trying to choose the political leaders who we believe are the most godly because, in reality, only God knows people's hearts. You and I don't, and we are all sinners.

There's nothing in politics that's worse than being caught unaware.

I don't read such small stuff as letters, I read men and nations. I can see through a millstone, though I can't see through a spelling-book. What a narrow idea a reading qualification is for a voter!

TR was a very practical politician, and it was partly from watching him sympathetically that I lost some of my contempt for politicians …

I'm saying we need to be aware of it, and we need to be able to distinguish when political developments are occurring that are contrary to the public interest.

Quite frankly, Oklahomans are pretty smart. They know how to choose candidates.

I believe that there are certain things that could be taken care of that you don't need a strong political background in.

Politics, like theater, is one of those things where you've got to be wise enough to know when to leave.

When you are in local government, you are on the ground, and you are looking into the eyes and hearts of the people you are there to serve. It teaches you to listen; it teaches you to be expansive in the people with whom you talk to, and I think that that engagement gives you political judgment.

I'm not disillusioned with Clinton. I never had any illusions.

I hear from people all the time and it infuriates me that 'President Obama's a brilliant politician.' No he absolutely is not.

I have not the smarts or patience for political office.

People’s political agenda is not clear to themselves in most cases.

It is an unquestionable truth, that the body of the people in every country desire sincerely its prosperity. But it is equally unquestionable that they do not possess the discernment and stability necessary for systematic government. To deny that they are frequently led into the grossest of errors, by misinformation and passion, would be a flattery which their own good sense must despise.

Being at the top of your game intellectually, philosophically, politically, is not a forever thing.

In politics, information is superabundant—what is needed is judgement and selectivity in dealing with that information.