Sam Rayburn Quotes

• No one has a finer command of language than the person who keeps his mouth shut.

  Sam Rayburn

  Inspirational, Book, Communication

  58 Copy quote

• Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.

  Sam Rayburn

  Barns, Carpenter, Jackasses

  53 Copy quote

• When the concept of Social Security came before the House, every Republican but one voted against it. Had it not been for the Democrats, Social Security would never have passed, and our older people would not have this great support that our people provide. It has been my experience that Democrats generally vote to protect the people, while Republicans seem to try to protect the interests of big business.

  Sam Rayburn

  People, Support, Political

  39 Copy quote

• Readiness for opportunity makes for success. Opportunity often comes by accident; readiness never does.

  Sam Rayburn

  Opportunity, Doe, Readiness

  24 Copy quote

• There are no degrees in honorableness. You either are or you aren't.

  Sam Rayburn

  Degrees

  17 Copy quote

• The real actor has a direct line to the collective heart.

  Sam Rayburn

  Real, Heart, Acting

  44 Copy quote

• You'll never get mixed up if you simply tell the truth. Then you don't have to remember what you have said, and you never forget what you have said.

  Sam Rayburn

  Remember, Never Forget, Telling The Truth

  "An Old Friend Writes of Rayburn". U.S. News & World Report, (p. 72), October 23, 1961.

  15 Copy quote

• Any man who will cheat for you will cheat against you.

  Sam Rayburn

  Men, Cheat

  16 Copy quote

• Don't try to go too fast. Learn your job. Don't ever talk until you know what you're talking about... If you want to get along, go along.

  Sam Rayburn

  Jobs, Talking, Trying

  "Forge of Democracy, the House of Representatives" by Neil MacNeil, (p. 129), 1963.

  20 Copy quote

• There's no education in the second kick of a mule

  Sam Rayburn

  Mules, Kicks

  18 Copy quote

• I will not deny that there are men in the district better qualified than I to go to Congress, but gentlemen, these men are not in the race.

  Sam Rayburn

  Men, Race, Political

  Sam Rayburn (1978). “"Speak, Mister Speaker"”

  23 Copy quote

• They may be just as intelligent as you say. But I'd feel a helluva lot better if just one of them had ever run for sheriff.

  Sam Rayburn

  Running, Intelligent, Political

  17 Copy quote

• Don't ever talk until you know what you're talking about...

  Sam Rayburn

  Talking, Knows

  "Forge of Democracy, the House of Representatives" by Neil MacNeil, (p. 129), 1963.

  16 Copy quote

• In my many years as a Representative in Congress it is my observation that the district that is best represented is the district that is wise enough to select a man of energy, intelligence, and integrity and reelects him year after year. A man of this type and character serves more efficiently and effectively the longer he is returned by his people.

  Sam Rayburn

  Wise, Integrity, Character

  "Congressional Record", vol. 88, Appendix, (p. A3866), November 2, 1942.

  22 Copy quote

• If a man has common sense, he has all the sense there is.

  Sam Rayburn

  Inspirational, Men, Common Sense

  Sam Rayburn (1978). “"Speak, Mister Speaker"”

  15 Copy quote

• Poverty only tries men's souls. It is loneliness that breaks the heart.

  Sam Rayburn

  Loneliness, Heart, Men

  17 Copy quote

• If you want to get along, go along.

  Sam Rayburn

  Want, Action, Ifs

  Quoted in Neil MacNeil, Forge of Democracy, the House of Representatives (1963). This was Speaker of the House of Representatives Rayburn's advice to new members of Congress.

  16 Copy quote

• Let the other fellow get the headlines. I'll take the laws.

  Sam Rayburn

  Law, Headlines, Fellows

  19 Copy quote

• When you get too big a majority, you're immediately in trouble.

  Sam Rayburn

  Political, Majority, Politics

  16 Copy quote

• I like power and I like to use it.

  Sam Rayburn

  Political, Use, Politics

  6 Copy quote

• A damn independent boy; independent as a hog on ice.

  Sam Rayburn

  Independent, Hockey, Boys

  7 Copy quote

• Too many critics mistake the deliberations of the Congress for its decisions.

  Sam Rayburn

  Mistake, Decision, Congress

  "Congressional Record", vol. 88, Appendix, (p. A3866), November 1, 1942.

  7 Copy quote

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