Political Restraint Quotes

If politicians stopped meddling with things they don't understand, there would be a more drastic reduction in the size of government than anyone in either party advocates.

I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think, and feel. And yet I have never understood that the Presidency conferred upon me an unrestricted right to act officially upon this judgment and feeling.

A government that understands the limits of power as well as its potential.

I don't say bad things about my Republican colleagues, ever.

I own that I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive.

So little of what makes a democracy work is written down. So much of it is just the things you don't do. There are a lot of things that a prime minister or a president can do and they don't do them because it never occurs to them to do them.

The independence of the legislative arm must be respected. I had little taste for forcing Congressional action.

To have good government, you often need less, not more, democracy.

Bind down our politicians with the chains of our Constitution.

There may be a limit beyond which many Americans and much of the world will not permit the United States to go.

The people ask much, often more than any government can give. We must resist the temptation to promise solutions to all problems.

No branch of government should ever be able to combine the power of the sword with the power of the purse.

I’m extremely conservative but I’m not mad at anybody about it.

I don't go to different countries to criticise their political system and tell them what they should be doing - what do I know?

In America ... who is to stop congress from spending too much money. They will not stop themselves, that is certain. Everybody has to think about that now. Who is to stop them.

Politicians and bureaucrats must learn to stay away from the day-by-day functioning of business.

If it be asked what is to restrain the House of Representatives from making legal discriminations in favor of themselves and a particular class of the society? I answer, the genius of the whole system, the nature of just and constitutional laws, and above all the vigilant and manly spirit which actuates the people of America, a spirit which nourishes freedom, and in return is nourished by it.

I generally leave the details of fiscal programs to the Administration and Congress. That's really their area of authority and responsibility, and I don't think it's appropriate for me to second guess.

A conservative vision to tech issues assumes the imperfection of mankind and a preference for markets - not politics - to drive outcomes.

The highest wisdom of a State is a wise and masterly inactivity …

I see myself as a former politician, and in that capacity, I say to other politicians, 'Hold back.'

The great object in view is to limit and qualify the powers of government.

Barack Obama wanted to applaud [Colin] Kaepernick. But he knew he couldn't do it. We haven't yet gotten to the point where the president can dishonor the country. A quarterback for the 49ers can, but we can't have the president do it yet.

There's something about Barack Obama that induces Americans to imagine what they cannot see. The Right envisions a vile socialist, while many on the Left picture an inspired liberal, politically restrained in his first term but now free to pursue his true beliefs.

Religion forbids us from assuming a God-like character. This is especially true in politics and government, where limiting the power of the state, division of powers, and the doctrine of checks and balances are established in order to prevent accumulation of power that might lead to such Godly claims.