Quotes: Politics. (2)

Politics 117 "Private passions grow tired and wear themselves out; political passions, never." Lamartine. Gross, ed. Oxford Book of Aphorisms.

Politics 130 "Party is the madness of many for the gain of a few." Swift. 1711. Gross, ed. Oxford Book of Aphorisms.

Politics 220 "Politics: strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles." Ambrose Bierce. Portable Curmudgeon. Politics is about interests, not principles.

Politics 220 "Being in politics is like being a football coach; you have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it’s important." Eugene McCarthy. Portable Curmudgeon. Whew! That's heresy!

Politics 220 "All politics are (is?) based on the indifference of the majority." James Reston. Portable Curmudgeon.

Politics 221 "It is dangerous for a national candidate to say things that people might remember." Eugene McCarthy. Portable Curmudgeon.

Politics 390 "Firmly fixed in the English tradition of common sense, compromise and comprehension, he [Creighton] held on his way amid the shrieking of extremists with imperturbable moderation." Lytton Strachey. “Creighton.” 1925. Gross, ed. Essays. Caught between extremes, he was imperturbable in insisting on moderation.

Politics 526 "No, it is not possible for a person of moral sensibility to take part in American politics." Lionel Trilling. “Adams at Ease.” 1952. Gross, ed. Essays. Politicians have no sense of morality.