Politics Quotes by Mark Twain

We have the best government that money can buy.

— Mark Twain

An honest man in politics shines more there than he would elsewhere.

— Mark Twain

Where every man in a state has a vote, brutal laws are impossible.

— Mark Twain

Demagogue--a vessel containing beer and other liquids.

— Mark Twain

An honest politician is an oxymoron.

— Mark Twain

Fleas can be taught nearly anything a congressman can.

— Mark Twain

The new political gospel: public office is private graft.

— Mark Twain

In truth I care little about any party's politics—the man behind it is the important thing.

— Mark Twain

Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.

— Mark Twain

My kind of loyalty was loyalty to one's country, not to its institutions or its office-holders.

— Mark Twain

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.

— Mark Twain

Politicians, old buildings, and prostitutes become respectable with age.

— Mark Twain

Imagine, if you will, that I am an idiot. Then, imagine that I am also a Congressman. But, alas, I repeat myself.

— Mark Twain

Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.

— Mark Twain

Morals consist of political morals, commercial morals, ecclesiastical morals, and morals.

— Mark Twain

The government is merely a servant―merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is…

— Mark Twain

Concentration of power in a political machine is bad; and an Established Church is only a political machine; it was invented for…

— Mark Twain

Each nation knowing it has the only true religion and the only sane system of government, each despising all the others, each…

— Mark Twain

In religion and politics people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who…

— Mark Twain

I shall not often meddle with politics, because we have a political Editor who is already excellent and only needs to serve…

— Mark Twain

Only a government that is rich and safe can afford to be a democracy, for democracy is the most expensive and nefarious…

— Mark Twain

All the territorial possessions of all the political establishments in the earth--including America, of course-- consist of pilferings from other people's wash.…

— Mark Twain

The modern patriotism, the true patriotism, the only rational patriotism is loyalty to the Nation all the time, loyalty to the Government…

— Mark Twain

Remember this, take this to heart, live by it, die for it if necessary: that our patriotism is medieval, outworn, obsolete; that…

— Mark Twain

I hate to hear people say this Judge will vote so and so, because he is a Democrat -- and this one…

— Mark Twain

Does the human being reason? No; he thinks, muses, reflects, but does not reason...that is, in the two things which are the…

— Mark Twain

The citizen who thinks he sees that the commonwealth's political clothes are worn out, and yet holds his peace and does not…

— Mark Twain

In religion and politics people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who…

— Mark Twain

I was an arden Hayes man, but that was natural, for I was pretty young at the time, I have since convinced…

— Mark Twain

The election makes me think of a story of a man who was dying. He had only two minutes to live, so…

— Mark Twain

“Unlimited power is the ideal thing when it is in safe hands. The despotism of heaven is the one absolutely perfect government,…

— Mark Twain

“There are two kinds of patriotism -- monarchical patriotism and republican patriotism. In the one case the government and the king may…

— Mark Twain

“Look at the tyranny of party-- at what is called party allegiance, party loyalty-- a snare invented by designing men for selfish…

— Mark Twain

Each of you, for himself, by himself and on his own responsibility, must speak. And it is a solemn and weighty responsibility,…

— Mark Twain

“Thanksgiving Day, a function which originated in New England two or three centuries ago when those people recognized that they really had…

— Mark Twain

“Each of you, for himself or herself, by himself or herself, and on his or her own responsibility, must speak. It is…

— Mark Twain

We must annex those people. We can afflict them with our wise and beneficent government. We can introduce the novelty of thieves,…

— Mark Twain

That's the difference between governments and individuals. Governments don't care, individuals do.

— Mark Twain

“Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”

— Mark Twain

When you are in politics you are in a wasp's nest with a short shirt-tail, as the saying is.

— Mark Twain