James L. Buckley famous quotes

04-17-2025

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 #Principles #Way
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

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