A Quote by James Russell Lowell

Compromise makes a good umbrella, but a poor roof; it is temporary expedient, often wise in party politics, almost sure to be unwise in statesmanship.

James Russell Lowell

Quote Topics

Politics Almost Compromise Good Makes Often Party Poor Roof Statesmanship Sure Temporary Umbrella Unwise Wise

Quote Author

James Russell Lowell
American - Poet
February 22, 1819 - August 12, 1891

Compromise makes a good umbrella, but a poor roof.

James Russell Lowell

It is wise statesmanship which suggests that in time of peace we must prepare for war, and it is no less a wise benevolence that makes preparation in the hour of peace for assuaging the ills that are sure to accompany war.

Clara Barton

Partisan rancour and party politics and ideology have got in the way of compromise - and compromise is the only thing that has ever made politics successful.

Kevin Spacey

That is why everyone in politics, and we do it, must make sure that they do not depend on one single interest group. A good compromise is one where everybody makes a contribution.

Angela Merkel

Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.

Barry Goldwater

All these years, they've been giving lip service to saying that we are a party that is inclusive instead of exclusive. We've said the Democratic Party has a great big umbrella, and everybody can be comfortable under that umbrella. If they didn't mean it, then it ought to be pulled apart.

Bert Lance

Measures of policy are necessarily controlled by circumstances; and, consequently, what may be wise and expedient under certain circumstances might be eminently unwise and impolitic under different circumstances. To persist in acting in the same way under circumstances essentially different would be folly and obstinacy, and not consistency.

John C. Calhoun

Statesmanship is harder than politics. Politics is the art of getting along with people, whereas statesmanship is the art of getting along with politicians.

Fletcher Knebel

As so often happens in politics, what appears to be politically expedient for those in power rarely overlaps with the public interest. The lesser evils of the regime become entrenched, while the greater good is never realized.

Jason Stearns

Honest statesmanship is the wise employment of individual meanness for the public good.

Abraham Lincoln

One of the problems the Republican Party has had is that we're too fast to compromise. You can compromise on the little stuff, but you can't compromise on your core principles.

Blake Farenthold

I would not compromise my principles for politics. You're saying, will it become politically unpopular to have the position I'm having? If it does, so be it. I don't compromise my principles for politics.

Chris Christie

I have always been involved in issue-based politics, not party politics - I was never really originally drawn to party politics.

Jill Stein

Emotion is always the enemy of wise statesmanship.

Stephen Kinzer

It's unwise to presume on the future... It makes good sense to plan for tomorrow today, but there's a problem with thinking we can always do later the good we can do now.