State Affairs Quotes

Religion has no business to formulate social laws.

The state of a king shuts him from the world, yet the business of a king requires him to know it thoroughly.

Can any of us refute the wisdom of Madison and the other framers? Can anyone look at the carnage in Iran, the bloodshed in Northern Ireland or the bombs bursting in Lebanon and yet question the dangers of injecting religious issues into the affairs of state?

He can't spend all his time running his mouth; he's got to run the country.

I believe in secular politics.

Centrally, I cannot interfere in states.

War is too serious a matter to leave to soldiers.

The United States does not accept foreign meddling in our elections, and we shouldn't have an ambassador attempting to intrude in another country's political affairs.

American democracy depends on the public's ability to remain accurately informed on our state of affairs.

Every administration, ever since John Adams took over from George Washington, has inherited foreign policy problems from its predecessor.

Every nation whose affairs betray a want of wisdom and stability may calculate on every loss which can be sustained from the more systematic policy of its wiser neighbors.

Life is politics.

It's the government's obligation to look really to the third parties to get the support to govern.

There is nothing more important for a government than getting its budget through.

Secrecy is the first essential in affairs of state.

Foreign policy mandarins often wish the public would leave them alone so that they can get on with the serious business of statecraft.

Foreign policy is really domestic policy with its hat on.

As a senator, I play an important role in crafting foreign policy.

I have never concealed my dual citizenship. People involved in state business should probably declare their dual citizenship if they have it.

Politics and government are certainly among the most important of practical human interests.

It must be understood that it is not proper for the French government to interfere with our domestic affairs.

Thou knowest how long and loyally I served the king in his worldly affairs. For that cause, it pleased him to promote me to the office which now I hold. When I consented, it was for the sake of the king alone. When I was elected, I was formally acquitted of my responsibilities for all that I had done as a chancellor.

Fine wits destroy themselves with their own plots, in meddling with great affairs of state.

War is much too serious a thing to be left to military men.

A public official must feel that he is a servant of the people. This is true of all public officials but perhaps in a special sense true of the Secretary of State, for our party lines stop at the water’s edge.