James Freeman Clarke Quotes

The difference between a politician and a statesman is: a politician thinks of the next election and a statesman thinks of the next generation.

Politicians all too often think about the next election. Statesmen think about the next generation.

It's time to put country ahead of party. It's time to put the next generation ahead of the next election.

The difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician thinks about the next election while the statesman think about the next generation

Politicians are always realistically maneuvering for the next election. They are obsolete as fundamental problem-solvers.

What Republicans have to get away from is just worrying about the next election and start thinking about what is good for the country down the road.

Leadership is not about the next election, it's about the next generation.

Our ethical values point one way, towards intergenerational responsibility, but our political system points another, towards the short-term horizon of the next election. We should consider introducing agents who can vote in a far-seeing and impartial way.

If more politicians in this country were thinking about the next generation instead of the next election, it might be better for the United States and the world.

You need the commitment of people that aren't worried about that next election, who are going to do the right thing and worry about the next generation. It's called political courage. And I can tell you, with me, you don't have to ask whether I have political courage.

A politician is a man who understands government. A statesman is a politician who's been dead for 15 years.

There is a difference between the typical politician and the statesman. A typical politician is that person who tells people what people want to hear, while the statesman tells people what people need to know.

You don’t become a statesman unless you are first a good politician.

It is seldom that public men see more beyond direct consequences.

A politician is a person with whose politics you don't agree; if you agree with him, he is a statesman.

Political activity means working for the future; the more we look into the future the more far-sighted will our policy be - so much the more clear and decided. The less far we try to see into the future, the more we content ourselves with the daily routine (Alltäglichkeit), the more weak and uncertain will be our policy of to-day. Every politician of note must, therefore endeavor out of the present to conclude what the future will be, and, if he wants to win the masses to his politics then he must attempt to make his expectations of the future plausible

No man can be a politician except he be first a historian.

If a statesman is one who looks to the next generation and a politician one who looks to the next election, a political consultant must be one who looks to the next tracking poll.

Men who think in lifetimes are of little use to statesmanship.

Marriage does not exist for the benefit of the present generation but for the benefit of the next

A politician is a statesman who approaches every question with an open mouth.

Never forget posterity when devising a policy. Never think of posterity when making a speech.

First and foremost, when I think of him - I'm prejudiced; I worked for the guy for six and a half years - when I think of him, I think of him first and foremost as an idea politician.

I have big ideas. If you don't like them, don't vote for me.

The thing about politics is to plan 10 years ahead, and assume every year is your last.