Parliament Quotes - Page 2

• Would it be possible to stand still on one spot more majestically -- while simulating a triumphant march forward -- than it is done by the two English Houses of Parliament?

  Alexander Herzen

  Two, House, Done

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• A patriot is he whose public conduct is regulated by one single motive, the love of his country; who, as an agent in parliament, has, for himself, neither hope nor fear, neither kindness nor resentment, but refers every thing to the common interest

  Samuel Johnson

  Country, Kindness, Patriotism

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1857). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.423

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• Russian Parliament today is a bunch of puppets that just fall in with the instructions from Kremlin.

  Garry Kasparov

  Fall, Puppets, Today

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• Alcohol is a very necessary article. It enables Parliament to do things at eleven at night that no sane person would do at eleven in the morning.

  George Bernard Shaw

  Morning, Drinking, Food

  Major Barbara (1907) act 2

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• Naturally, the common people don't want war ... but after all it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.

  Hermann Goring

  Country, Peace, Military

  Interview in Göring's jail cell, April 18, 1946. "Nuremberg Diary". Book by Gustave Gilbert, 1947.

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• Parliaments cannot right the world; but enough individuals feeling love can.

  Lester Levenson

  Spiritual, Feelings, World

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• We enter parliament in order to supply ourselves, in the arsenal of democracy, with its own weapons. If democracy is so stupid as to give us free tickets and salaries for this bear's work, that is its affair. We do not come as friends, nor even as neutrals. We come as enemies. As the wolf bursts into the flock, so we come.

  Joseph Goebbels

  Stupid, Order, Giving

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• It is important that the decorum and dignity of the House is upheld at all times. The image of Parliament in the public mind should be one where proceedings, debates and discussions take place with a view to resolve issues through a constructive and co-operative approach.

  Pratibha Patil

  Views, Issues, House

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• We'll support the government on issues if it's essential to the country but our primary responsibility is not to prop up the government, our responsibility is to provide an opposition and an alternative government for Parliament and for Canadians.

  Stephen Harper

  Country, Responsibility, Government

  "Harper appears open to working with Bloc in 2004 CBC interview". Interview with Evan Solomon, www.theglobeandmail.com. December 05, 2008.

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• One moment it's a cathedral, at another time there is no words to describe it when it ceases, for short periods of time, to have any regard for the proprieties that constitute not only Parliament, but its tradition. I've seen it in all its greatness. I have inwardly wept over it when it is degraded.

  John Diefenbaker

  Greatness, Tradition, Moments

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• What is Parliament for if it is not to be a means to make ministers accountable for the services for which they are responsible.

  Michael Howard

  Mean, Responsible, Ministers

  "Blair: Howard is exploiting Dixon" by Tom Happold, www.theguardian.com. March 4, 2005.

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• You have sat too long for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!

  Oliver Cromwell

  God, Done With You, Names

  Remarks to Rump Parliament, 20 Apr. 1653. The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations describes this as "oral tradition." BulstrodeWhitlocke, Memorials of the English Affairs (1682), describes Cromwell as telling the House that "they has sate long enough, unles they had done more good."

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• The boycott of parliamentary institutions on the part of anarchists and semianarchists is dictated by a desire not to submit their weakness to a test on the part of the masses, thus preserving their right to an inactive hauteur which makes no difference to anybody. A revolutionary party can turn its back to a parliament only if it has set itself the immediate task of overthrowing the existing regime.

  Leon Trotsky

  Party, Differences, Desire

  Leon Trotsky (2008). “History of the Russian Revolution”, p.605, Haymarket Books

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• If Parliament were to consider the sporting with reputation of as much importance as sporting on manors, and pass an act for the preservation of fame as well as game, there are many who would thank them for the bill.

  Richard Brinsley Sheridan

  Games, Bills, Reputation

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• The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them in parliament.

  Vladimir Lenin

  Years, Class, Politics

  "The State and Revolution". Chapter 5, www.marxists.org. 1917.

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• The House of Commons is called the Lower House, in twenty Acts of Parliament; but what are twenty Acts of Parliament amongst Friends?

  John Selden

  House, Twenties, House Of Commons

  John Selden (1716). “Table-talk: the discourses of J. Selden [ed. by R. Milward.].”, p.26

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• Parliament must not be told a direct untruth, but its quite possible to allow them to mislead themselves.

  Norman Tebbit

  Direct, Untruth, Mislead

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• Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they themselves must pass.

  Confucius

  Relationship, Forgiveness, Faith

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• Parliament has become so undermined it is almost unable to do the job that people expect of it. A glaring example is the budget bill, where there was no thoughtful debate or scrutiny of the legislation.

  Sheila Fraser

  Jobs, Thoughtful, People

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• The first years in Parliament I did nothing - nothing to any purpose. My own distinction was my darling object.

  William Wilberforce

  Years, Purpose, Firsts

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• A man whose desire is to be something separate from himself, to be a member of Parliament, or a successful grocer, or a prominent solicitor, or a judge, or something equally tedious, invariably succeeds in being what he wants to be. That is his punishment. Those who want a mask have to wear it.

  Oscar Wilde

  Successful, Men, Judging

  Oscar Wilde, Russell Jackson, Ian Small (2000). “The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde: De profundis, "Epistola : in carcere et vinculis"”, p.184, Oxford University Press on Demand

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• People in Parliament occupy themselves with private animosities and petty quarrels, and think little of the national interest. It is impossible to credit the serene indifference with which they consider events outside their own country.

  William III of England

  Country, Thinking, People

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• And think of how we challenged the idea of a male dominated Parliament with All-Women shortlists and made the cause of gender equality central to our government. We were right to do so.

  Ed Miliband

  Equality, Thinking, Government

  "Labour conference: Ed Miliband speech in full". www.theguardian.com. September 28, 2010.

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• I look forward to continuing the debate about Britain's future - in Parliament and across the country.

  Theresa May

  Country, Looks, Debate

  Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

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• I'm a person who promotes the concept of accountability to a great extent, and I've spoken in the Parliament and reinforced the need for accountability.

  Vijay Mallya

  Accountability, Needs, Persons

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