19th-century Politician Quotes

Poor Bob. It's very sad; he would rather make a point than make a friend.

Of Robert Menzies

In the first stone which he [the savage] flings at the wild animals he pursues, in the first stick that he seizes to strike down the fruit which hangs above his reach, we see the appropriation of one article for the purpose of aiding in the acquisition of another, and thus discover the origin of capital.

All around us there are tangible evidences of the industrial activity of our people and the growth and development of our State, and with national legislation not unfavorable to us, the future of Oregon is full of promise of a rich inheritance to its inhabitants.

William Paine Lord

Whatever happens, the US Navy is not going to be caught napping.

On 4 December 1941, few days before attack on Pearl Harbor

The savages set up gods to which they pray, and which they punish if one of their prayers is not answered... That is what is happening at this moment... Yesterday Kerensky; today Lenin and Trotsky; another tomorrow...

We know that the organised workers of the country are our friends. As for the rest, they don't matter a tinker's cuss.

The socialist believes that it is better to be rich than poor, the Christian that it is better to be poor than rich.

Lord Hugh Cecil

Parties are not built up by deportment, or by ladies' magazines, or gush.

Roscoe Conkling

Lisbeth was his — she was his... the words became a beautiful and tender hymn glorifying a love which triumphed over all worldly vicissitudes. The hymn resounded over all the plains, over the ice and snows. In the name of Christ Jesus, he raised the chalice to Bjorn's mouth. In the name of Christ Jesus!

Johan Falkberget

They love him most for the enemies he has made.

Edward S. Bragg

When Theodore Roosevelt asked for a legal justification for the acquisition of the Panama Canal project:

Oh, Mr President, do not let so great an achievement suffer from any taint of legality.

Philander C. Knox

No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.

You, gentlemen, are in need of great upheavals; we are in need of Great Russia.

When the spring comes, we will manure the plains of Kosova with the bones of Serbs, for we Albanians have suffered too much to forget.

'God save Ireland!' said the heroes;
'God save Ireland', say they all:
Whether on the scaffold high
Or the battlefield we die,
Oh, what matter when for Erin dear we fall.

Timothy Daniel Sullivan

These are the rules of big business. They have superseded the teachings of our parents and are reducible to a simple maxim: Get a monopoly; let Society work for you; and remember that the best of all business is politics, for a legislative grant, franchise, subsidy or tax exemption is worth more than a Kim-berly or Comstock lode, since it does not require any labor, either mental or physical, for its exploitation.

Frederic C. Howe

The only magic in our lives as runners is the magic of consistency. Not every run will make you feel great.

In a physical contest on the field of battle it is allowable to use tactics and strategy, to retreat as well as advance, to have recourse to a ruse as well as open attack; but in matters of principle there can be no tactics, there is one straight forward course to follow and that course must be found and followed without swerving to the end.

Terence MacSwiney

Do not show the face of Islam to others; instead show your face as the follower of true Islam representing character, knowledge, tolerance and piety.

Syed Ahmed Khan

We are Republicans and don't propose to leave our party and identify ourselves with the party whose antecedents are rum, Romanism, and rebellion.

Samuel Dickinson Burchard

I am neither a Serb nor a Bulgarian, I am a South Slav.

Aleksandar Stamboliyski

Courage is a moral quality; it is not a chance gift of nature like an aptitude for games. It is a cold choice between two alternatives.

Charles Wilson, 1st Baron Moran

We are ready to proclaim throughout Italy this great principle: a free church in a free state.

For six years profound silence was mistaken for profound wisdom.

Alben W. Barkley

The high contracting powers solemnly declare…that they condemn recourse to war and renounce it…as an instrument of their national policy towards each other…The settlement or the solution of all disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be which may arise…shall never be sought by either side except by pacific means.

Aristide Briand