WIST Quotations

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
(Attributed)

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

While technically I did not commit a crime, an impeachable offense

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
(Attributed)

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 15 Jun 2004 13:26:21 +0000

Idealism without pragmatism is impotent. Pragmatism without idealism is meaningless. The key to effective leadership is pragmatic idealism.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
(Attributed)

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 28 May 2013 13:12:54 +0000

What starts the process, really, are laughs and slights and snubs. But if you are reasonably intelligent and if your anger is deep and strong enough, you learn you can change those attitudes by excellence, personal gut performance, while those who have everything are sitting on their fat butts.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
(Attributed)

Remark to Ken Clawson. Quoted in Tom Marganthau, "The Rise and Fall and Rise and Fall and Rise of Nixon," Newsweek (2 May 1994)

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- Dallas Times-Herald (10 Dec 1978)

Dave — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:58:20 +0000

If an individual wants to be a leader and isn’t controversial, that means he never stood for anything.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
Dallas Times-Herald (10 Dec 1978)

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- Six Crises, ch. 3 (1962)

Dave — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:38:03 +0000

In meeting a crisis in life, one must either fight or run away. But one must do something. Not knowing how to act or not being able to act is what tears your insides out.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
Six Crises, ch. 3 (1962)

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- Six Crises, ch. 3 (1962)

Dave — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:21:14 +0000

Public opinion polls are useful if a politician uses them only to learn approximately what the people are thinking, so that he can talk to them more intelligently. The politician who sways with the polls is not worth his pay. And I believe the people eventually catch up with the man who merely tells them what he thinks they want to hear.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
Six Crises, ch. 3 (1962)

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- Address, Radio-Television Executives Society, New York (14 Sep 1955)

Dave — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:00:46 +0000

There is no such thing as a nonpolitical speech by a politician.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
Address, Radio-Television Executives Society, New York (14 Sep 1955)

Quoted by The Christian Science Monitor the following day, but not in the press release of the speech.

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- Comment in a meeting (1970)

Dave — Tue, 04 May 2010 15:59:16 +0000

Honesty may not be the best policy, but it is worth trying once in a while.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
Comment in a meeting (1970)

Quoted in H. Stein, "Herb Stein's Unfamiliar Quotations," Slate (16 May 1997).

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- Inaugural Address (20 Jan 1969)

Dave — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:27:39 +0000

Until he has been part of a cause larger than himself, no man is truly whole.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
Inaugural Address (20 Jan 1969)

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- Interview on his 60th birthday (9 Jan 1973)

Dave — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:45:22 +0000

The presidency has many problems, but boredom is the least of them.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
Interview on his 60th birthday (9 Jan 1973)

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- Interview with David Frost (20 May 1977)

Dave — Thu, 31 May 2012 13:09:29 +0000

When the President does it, that means that it’s not illegal.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
Interview with David Frost (20 May 1977)

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- Speech to members of his administration (9 Aug 1974)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win, unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
Speech to members of his administration (9 Aug 1974)

After announcing his resignation.

Nixon, Richard Milhous -- Television broadcast (19 Sep 1968)

Dave — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:40:52 +0000

The President’s chief job is to lead, not to administer; it is not to oversee every detail, but to put the right people in charge, to provide them with basic guidance and direction, and to let them do their job.

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74)
Television broadcast (19 Sep 1968)