John Burris: Famous Quotes With A Modern-day Application

Winston Churchill said, “It is good for an uneducated man to read a book of quotes.”

Over the years, I’ve written down interesting quotations and words of wisdom I come across. I do this because one day I realized I was hearing more good things than I could remember. Writing them down made sense.

The book that I wrote in is now full. I should get a new one, but for now I just keep a living “Note” on my iPhone.

Below are some excerpts from my recordings, tagged with additional commentary on what makes the words relevant to the political landscape today.

“Honor those who are not present. Respect those that help you prosper.”

Former Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt is being laid to rest this week. Whatever honor he receives at his memorial service will not be enough, but will still be more than he would have wanted.

“I apologize for the length of this letter. I did not have time to make it short.” – Abraham Lincoln.

Anybody can ramble. It takes preparation to be concise. Some have remarked on how our governor speaks in deliberate, complete sentences. That’s likely the preparation talking.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

I pray this nightly for the Healthcare Task Force. You should do the same.

“A camel is a horse designed by committee.”

This is why the Healthcare Task Force needs our prayers.

“You can’t reason a man out of a position he didn’t reason himself into.”

This is why the Healthcare Task Force has a difficult job. There are lots of opinions on healthcare. There aren’t very many opinions that are rooted in fact and not motivated by self-protection.

“If you want something done, ask the person who doesn’t have any time.”

In the Legislature, often times the same people keep getting most of the headlines. That’s because they do most of the work. Others may complain about it, but won’t do any of the work required to actually change it. If you’re busy, it’s because you’re good. If you’re not busy, re-think your strategy.

“Pay peanuts, get monkeys.”

The new legislative salaries set by the commission are not too high, though the 16 years of allowed service might be. Not all will earn the salary, but most will.

“The fights are most intense when the stakes are so small.”

This explains many of the headlines out of the State Treasurer’s office last week. I’d expect more to come.

“The actual expression used to me was ‘You must not bat against your own side’ – as if it were a game of cricket being played in our most revered assembly.” – M.P. Harold Nicholson.

Harold Nicholson was a Tory Member of Parliament in the 1940’s. He and a group of other young, hard-headed rebels spent months creating the revolt that eventually led to Neville Chamberlain’s fall and Winston Churchill’s ascension. The book Troublesome Young Men chronicles their efforts, and is well worth the read.

Nicholson wrote these words in his journal after he spoke against Chamberlain – a member of the same political party – for the latest blunder in confronting an aggressive Germany.

Republicans today are too hesitant to speak when the failures of other Republicans should compel us to speak. Perhaps it’s because there were so few for so long. When the numbers were less, a single person mattered more. Today it doesn’t. We should call things what they are. It will serve the party better in the long term.

“You have sat too long here for any good you might have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God go!” – M.P. Leo Amery.

The usually tame Amery, quoting from a speech by Oliver Cromwell, delivered the most brutal blow to Chamberlain in the debate of his handling of the war.

What Amery said to Chamberlain should be said to Harry Reid today. Reid made the Senate dysfunctional. He deserves no legacy other than that. He should not be missed.

“Being President is kind of like being a jackass in a hail storm. Sometimes all you can do is stand there and take it.”– Lyndon Baines Johnson.

LBJ is probably one of the most morally corrupt men to ever occupy the White House. But he summed up nicely what it’s like to be in a leadership role.

“There are two rules for success. The first it to not tell everything you know.”

This seems like a good place to end.