I have always felt that a politician is to be judged by the animosities he excites among his opponents.

There is no greater mistake than to suppose that platitudes, smooth words, timid policies, offer today a path to safety.

Why waste your money looking up your family tree? Just go into politics and your opponent will do it for you.

No President can be great, or even fit for office, if he attempts to accommodate to injustice to maintain his political balance.

He gave him Jim Crow. And when his wrinkled stomach cried out for the food that his empty pockets could not provide, he ate Jim Crow, a psychological bird that told him that no matter how bad off he was, at least he was a white man, better than the black man.

On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, "Is it safe?" Expediency asks the question, "Is it politic?" And Vanity comes along and asks the question, "Is it popular?" But Conscience asks the question "Is it right?" And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right.