---
title: "6 Saying Quotes By P. J. O'Rourke"
description: "6 Saying quotes by P. J. O'Rourke. Plus more from P. J. O'Rourke and more Saying sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/p-j-o-rourke-184_advocating_there-is-no-virtue-in-compulsory-governm_624796.jpg"
---

> [There is no virtue in compulsory government charity, and there is no virtue in advocating it. A politician who portrays himself as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/there-is-no-virtue-in-compulsory-government-charity-and-there-is-no/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/p-j-o-rourke-184_advocating_there-is-no-virtue-in-compulsory-governm_624796.jpg)

> [All previous populist movements were demanding things from governments, whereas the Tea Party is saying, 'Give us less, go away.' That's heartening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/all-previous-populist-movements-were-demanding-things-from/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/p-j-o-rourke-184_away_all-previous-populist-movements-were-dem_665549.png)

> [When you're a war correspondent, the reader is for you because the reader is saying, 'Gee, I wouldn't want to be doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/when-you-re-a-war-correspondent-the-reader-is-for-you-because-the/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/p-j-o-rourke-184_because_when-you-re-a-war-correspondent-the-read_995144.png)

> [Political leaders are expert at saying nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/political-leaders-are-expert-at-saying-nothing/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/p-j-o-rourke-184_expert_political-leaders-are-expert-at-saying-n_2683890.png)

> [By the end of the 1950s, American cars were so reliable that their reliability went without saying even in car ads. Thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/by-the-end-of-the-1950s-american-cars-were-so-reliable-that-their/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e5/p-j-o-rourke-184_ads_by-the-end-of-the-1950s-american-cars-we_2699484.jpg)

> [Being a humorist is not a voluntary thing. You can tell this because in a situation where saying a funny thing will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/being-a-humorist-is-not-a-voluntary-thing-you-can-tell-this-because/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebd/p-j-o-rourke-184_because_being-a-humorist-is-not-a-voluntary-thin_3147783.png)

## Other authors on Saying

## More by P. J. O'Rourke

> [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [My whole family can talk. They are all car salesmen. They are all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/my-whole-family-can-talk-they-are-all-car-salesmen-they-are-all-funny/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/p-j-o-rourke/#itemlist",
            "name": "6 Saying Quotes By P. J. O'Rourke",
            "numberOfItems": 6,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "There is no virtue in compulsory government charity, and there is no virtue in advocating it. A politician who portrays himself as 'caring' and 'sensitive' because he wants to expand the government's charitable programs is merely saying that he's willing to try to do good with other people's money.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "P. J. O'Rourke"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/there-is-no-virtue-in-compulsory-government-charity-and-there-is-no/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/p-j-o-rourke-184_advocating_there-is-no-virtue-in-compulsory-governm_624796.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/p-j-o-rourke-184_advocating_there-is-no-virtue-in-compulsory-governm_624796.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/p-j-o-rourke-184_advocating_there-is-no-virtue-in-compulsory-governm_624796.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“There is no virtue in compulsory government charity, and there is no virtue in advocating it. A politician…” — P. J. O'Rourke",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "All previous populist movements were demanding things from governments, whereas the Tea Party is saying, 'Give us less, go away.' That's heartening to see.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "P. J. O'Rourke"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/all-previous-populist-movements-were-demanding-things-from/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/p-j-o-rourke-184_away_all-previous-populist-movements-were-dem_665549.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/p-j-o-rourke-184_away_all-previous-populist-movements-were-dem_665549.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/p-j-o-rourke-184_away_all-previous-populist-movements-were-dem_665549.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“All previous populist movements were demanding things from governments, whereas the Tea Party is saying…” — P. J. O'Rourke",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "When you're a war correspondent, the reader is for you because the reader is saying, 'Gee, I wouldn't want to be doing that.' They're on your side.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "P. J. O'Rourke"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/when-you-re-a-war-correspondent-the-reader-is-for-you-because-the/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/p-j-o-rourke-184_because_when-you-re-a-war-correspondent-the-read_995144.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/p-j-o-rourke-184_because_when-you-re-a-war-correspondent-the-read_995144.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/p-j-o-rourke-184_because_when-you-re-a-war-correspondent-the-read_995144.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“When you're a war correspondent, the reader is for you because the reader is saying, 'Gee, I wouldn't want…” — P. J. O'Rourke",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Political leaders are expert at saying nothing.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "P. J. O'Rourke"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/political-leaders-are-expert-at-saying-nothing/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/p-j-o-rourke-184_expert_political-leaders-are-expert-at-saying-n_2683890.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/p-j-o-rourke-184_expert_political-leaders-are-expert-at-saying-n_2683890.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/p-j-o-rourke-184_expert_political-leaders-are-expert-at-saying-n_2683890.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Political leaders are expert at saying nothing.” — P. J. O'Rourke",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "By the end of the 1950s, American cars were so reliable that their reliability went without saying even in car ads. Thousands of them bear testimony to this today, still running on the roads of Cuba though fueled with nationalized Venezuelan gasoline and maintained with spit and haywire.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "P. J. O'Rourke"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/by-the-end-of-the-1950s-american-cars-were-so-reliable-that-their/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e5/p-j-o-rourke-184_ads_by-the-end-of-the-1950s-american-cars-we_2699484.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e5/p-j-o-rourke-184_ads_by-the-end-of-the-1950s-american-cars-we_2699484.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e5/p-j-o-rourke-184_ads_by-the-end-of-the-1950s-american-cars-we_2699484.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“By the end of the 1950s, American cars were so reliable that their reliability went without saying even in…” — P. J. O'Rourke",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 6,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Being a humorist is not a voluntary thing. You can tell this because in a situation where saying a funny thing will cause a lot of trouble, a humorist will still say the funny thing. No matter how inappropriate.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "P. J. O'Rourke"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/being-a-humorist-is-not-a-voluntary-thing-you-can-tell-this-because/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebd/p-j-o-rourke-184_because_being-a-humorist-is-not-a-voluntary-thin_3147783.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebd/p-j-o-rourke-184_because_being-a-humorist-is-not-a-voluntary-thin_3147783.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebd/p-j-o-rourke-184_because_being-a-humorist-is-not-a-voluntary-thin_3147783.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Being a humorist is not a voluntary thing. You can tell this because in a situation where saying a funny…” — P. J. O'Rourke",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/p-j-o-rourke/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/p-j-o-rourke/",
            "name": "Saying Quotes by P. J. O'Rourke",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/p-j-o-rourke/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/p-j-o-rourke-184_advocating_there-is-no-virtue-in-compulsory-governm_624796.jpg"
            },
            "description": "6 Saying quotes by P. J. O'Rourke. Plus more from P. J. O'Rourke and more Saying sayings from other authors.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/p-j-o-rourke/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/p-j-o-rourke/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Saying",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "name": "P. J. O'Rourke",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/p-j-o-rourke/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```