James L. Buckley Quotes

• If enough people openly engage in conduct once considered reprehensible, we rewrite the rule book and assume that God, as a good democrat, will go along.

  James L. Buckley

  Book, People, Engagement

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• What people fail to appreciate is that the currency of corruption in elective office is, not money, but votes.

  James L. Buckley

  People, Appreciate, Office

  James L. Buckley (2010). “Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State”, p.244, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• Under the circumstances, may I suggest another means of encouraging probity in elective office. I refer to term limitations, which can serve ends beyond that of saving congressional souls.

  James L. Buckley

  Mean, Office, Soul

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• This source of corruption, alas, is inherent in the democratic system itself, and it can only be controlled, if at all, by finding ways to encourage legislators to subordinate ambition to principle.

  James L. Buckley

  Ambition, Way, Principles

  James L. Buckley (2010). “Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State”, p.245, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• Unfortunately, in today's world we have to be reminded that the power of an oath derives from the fact that in it we ask God to bear witness to the promises we make with the implicit expectation that He will hold us accountable for the manner in which we honor them.

  James L. Buckley

  Expectations, Honor, Promise

  James L. Buckley (2010). “Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State”, p.245, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• What distinguishes the campaign finance issue from just about every other one being debated these days is that the two sides do not divide along conventional liberal/ conservative lines.

  James L. Buckley

  Two Sides, Issues, Campaigns

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• The kind of corruption the media talk about, the kind the Supreme Court was concerned about, involves the putative sale of votes in exchange for campaign contributions.

  James L. Buckley

  Media, Campaigns, Vote

  James L. Buckley (2010). “Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State”, p.244, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• Unfortunately, the media, which are not at all reluctant to act in their own self-interest, have succeeded in equating reform in the public mind with further restrictions on just about everyone else's freedom of political speech.

  James L. Buckley

  Self, Media, Political

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• In rendering its decision in our case, the Supreme Court equated money with speech because these days it takes the first to make yourself heard.

  James L. Buckley

  Decision, Speech, Firsts

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• I am persuaded that in the case of elected officials, the overwhelming temptation is to conclude that it is more important for your constituents that you be reelected than that you deal honestly with them.

  James L. Buckley

  Temptation, Important, Cases

  James L. Buckley (2010). “Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State”, p.246, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• They may then be willing to cast principled votes based on an educated understanding of the public interest in the face of polls suggesting that the public itself may have quite a different understanding of where its interest lies.

  James L. Buckley

  Lying, Understanding, Different

  James L. Buckley (2010). “Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State”, p.247, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• I had hoped that the current presidential campaign debates might educate the public as to what is really involved in the ongoing controversy over campaign financing.

  James L. Buckley

  Afterlife, Presidential, Campaigns

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• Given the difficulty of resisting such temptations over the longer run, a proper concern for the welfare of congressional souls may well be the ultimate argument in favor of term limitations.

  James L. Buckley

  Running, Temptation, Soul

  James L Buckley (2010). “Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State”, p.90, Encounter Books

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