WIST Quotations

Moynihan, Daniel Patrick -- “Moynihan’s Maxim”

Dave — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 18:57:41 +0000

If the newspapers of a country are filled with good news, the jails will be filled with good people.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927-2003) American politician, diplomat, sociologist
“Moynihan’s Maxim”

Also referred to as "Moynihan's Law." Quoted in The Illustrated Weekly of India (16-22 Oct 1988).

Moynihan, Daniel Patrick -- Meet the Press (19 Jun 1994)

Dave — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 13:18:57 +0000

Life is one day at a time. And thank God! I couldn’t take much more.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927-2003) American politician, diplomat, sociologist
Meet the Press (19 Jun 1994)

Moynihan, Daniel Patrick -- Lecture (1985-04-09), “Family and Nation: Common Ground?” Godkin Lectures, Harvard University

Dave — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 15:38:36 +0000

The central conservative truth is that it is culture, not politics, that determines the success of a society. The central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927-2003) American politician, diplomat, sociologist
Lecture (1985-04-09), “Family and Nation: Common Ground?” Godkin Lectures, Harvard University
(Source)

Collected in his Family and Nation, ch. 3 (1986).