Bills Quote by Lyndon B. Johnson
“A good president does with executive power what Pablo Picasso did with paint. He takes bills into new and slightly discomfiting territory. He puts extra eyes on policies. He moves the mouth of the Supreme Court from where it should be to where it must be.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: State of the Union, 1965
Compares presidential power to artistic freedom, urging bold, transformative actions that reshape policy and judicial direction.
In simple terms: Presidents should use power creatively like an artist.
Key Takeaway
Use power to reshape institutions.
Themes
leadership
innovation
judicial influence
Mood
cautious
strategic
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legislative reform
- court appointments
- public administration
- political strategy
Key Concepts
Executive authority
policy design
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders balance boldness with accountability?
- What limits exist on reshaping the judiciary?
A Different Perspective
May underestimate checks and balances and public resistance.
![“[The American President] has to take all sorts of abuse from liars and demagogues.… The people can never understand why the President does not use his supposedly great power to make ’em behave. Well, all the President is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing…” quote by Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c70/harry-s-truman-898_abuse_the-american-president-has-to-take-all-s_1346472.jpg)
![“[Sport officials] blocked their support of us. But those individuals [ Muhammad Ali, the Jim Browns, the Bill Russells, Kareem Abdul Jabbar ] were old enough, they were wise enough, and they knew their history and this is why they came out in support of us, because they knew that we had our finger…” quote by John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/13b/john-carlos-16923_bills_sport-officials-blocked-their-support-of_4987.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)
![“I will not agree to have this bill [to repeal DADT ] go forward, because our economy is in the tank.” quote by John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c2c/john-mccain-465_agree_i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-re_7321.jpg)
