“Politicians like to cut ribbons, but they don’t like to sweep brooms”
"Politicians like to cut ribbons, but they don't like to sweep brooms" means that politicians like the ribbon-cutting ceremonies on large capital projects, but they don't like…
“Politicians prefer unarmed peasants”
"Politicians prefer unarmed peasants" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as bumper stickers, T-shirts and buttons. The saying became popular during the Lithuanian…
“Politicians see the light when they feel the heat”
Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) said since at least 1975: "Our job is not to make congress see the light, but to feel the heat." Reagan used the saying several times during his U.S. presidency…
“Politicians should wear Nascar-like uniforms to show their sponsors”
Progressive columnist and radio host said in April 1995: "Here's my idea: Like NASCAR race drivers or PGA golfers, why not require each of the candidates to cover their clothing,…
“Politicians use statistics as a drunken man uses lamp posts—for support, not illumination”
Reader's Digest published this quotation in 1937: "He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts — for support rather than for illumination (Andrew Lang)." It has long been…
“Politicians who complain about the press are like sailors complaining about the sea”
"Politicians who complain about the press/media are like sailors complaining about the sea" is a modern political proverb meaning that press criticism of politicians comes with the job…
“Politicians, old buildings and prostitutes become respectable with age”
The movie Chinatown (1974), written by Robert Towne and directed by Roman Polanski, contained the following memorable line, spoken by the actor-director John Huston: "'Course I'm…
“Politicians: Scrape shit from boots before entering” (sign)
"Politicians: Scrape shit from boots before entering" is a jocular sign that has been printed on many images. "Another sign says: 'Politicians: Please scrape shit from boots…
“Politics ain’t beanbag”
"Politics ain't beanbag" is the famous statement of Mr. Dooley, an Irish-American character of writer Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936). In an 1895 newspaper column, the full quote was:…
“Politics and crime are the same thing”
"Politics and crime, they're the same thing" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The line was said in Italian by the character Don Tommasino (played by Vittorio Duse)…
“Politics doesn’t make strange bedfellows—marriage does”
"Politics makes strange bedfellows" is an old saying. "Politics makes strange bedfellows and marriage estranged ones" was cited in print in 1903. "Marriage makes stranger…
“Politics has got so expensive that it takes lots of money even to get beat with”
"Politics has got so expensive that it takes lots of money even to get beat with nowadays," joked humorist Will Rogers (1879-1835) in a newspaper column on June 29, 1931. The joke has has…
“Politics is a contact sport” (“Democracy is a contact sport”)
"Politics is a contact sport" means that politics is rough business, like the sport of boxing. Japanese politics was called a "contact sport" in June 1960. "Politics is a…
“Politics is downstream from culture”
"Politics is downstream from/of (the) culture" means that the culture comes first and then the laws, not the other way around. Laws against slavery, for example, must be preceded by…
“Politics is show business for ugly people”
"Politics is (like) show business" is a phrase that dates to at least 1954, when it appeared in the headline of political reporter Drew Pearson's syndicated column. When former actor…
“Politics is simply theatre for the slave class”
"Politics is simply theatre for the slave class" (shown on an image) was posted on iFunny on November 9, 2021. This image was also posted on Twitter by conspiracybot on June 23, 2022.…
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble…”
British writer Ernest Benn (1875-1954) has been quoted from 1930: "Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the…
“Politics is the art of making your selfish desires seem like the national interest”
"Politics is the art of making your selfish desires seem like the national interest" is a saying that has been printed on many images. American economist, author, and social commentator…
“Politics is the art of postponing decisions until they are no longer relevant”
"Politics is the art of postponing decisions until they are no longer relevant" is usually credited to French Radical politician Henri Queuille (1884-1970). "His (Henri Queuille --…
“Politics is the art of taking money from the few and votes from the many”
Entry in progress -- B.P. [The Quote Investigator provided assistance for this entry -- B.P.] Wikipedia: Matthew QuayMatthew Stanley Quay (September 30, 1833 – May 28, 1904) was an immensely…