Commencement oratory must eschew anything that smacks of partisan politics, political preference, sex, religion or unduly firm opinion. Nonetheless, there must be a speech: Speeches in our culture are the vacuum that fills a vacuum.

Quote by John Kenneth Galbraith

Topics: Politics Quotes, Speech Quotes

The total alteration in underlying circumstances has not been squarely faced, As a result, we...

The total alteration in underlying circumstances has not been squarely faced, As a result, we...

Much literary criticism comes from people for whom extreme specialization is a cover for either...

Much literary criticism comes from people for whom extreme specialization is a cover for either...

Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory.

Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory.

What is called a high standard of living consists, in considerable measure, in arrangements for...

What is called a high standard of living consists, in considerable measure, in arrangements for...

It would be foolish to suggest that government is a good custodian of aesthetic goals....

It would be foolish to suggest that government is a good custodian of aesthetic goals....

Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous...

Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous...

The contented and economically comfortable have a very discriminating view of government. Nobody is ever...

The contented and economically comfortable have a very discriminating view of government. Nobody is ever...

Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.

Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.

Inflation does not lubricate trade but by rescuing traders from their errors of optimism or...

Inflation does not lubricate trade but by rescuing traders from their errors of optimism or...

Modesty is a vastly overrated virtue.

Modesty is a vastly overrated virtue.

The enemy of the conventional wisdom is not ideas but the march of events.

The enemy of the conventional wisdom is not ideas but the march of events.

Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need...

Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need...

If it is dangerous to suppose that government is always right, it will sooner or...

If it is dangerous to suppose that government is always right, it will sooner or...

The salary of the chief executive of a large corporation is not a market award...

The salary of the chief executive of a large corporation is not a market award...

In economics, the majority is always wrong.

In economics, the majority is always wrong.

In central banking as in diplomacy, style, conservative tailoring, and an easy association with the...

In central banking as in diplomacy, style, conservative tailoring, and an easy association with the...

There are few ironclad rules of diplomacy but to one there is no exception. When...

There are few ironclad rules of diplomacy but to one there is no exception. When...

Total physical and mental inertia are highly agreeable, much more so than we allow ourselves...

Total physical and mental inertia are highly agreeable, much more so than we allow ourselves...

People who are in a fortunate position always attribute virtue to what makes them so...

People who are in a fortunate position always attribute virtue to what makes them so...

In the United States, though power corrupts, the expectation of power paralyzes.

In the United States, though power corrupts, the expectation of power paralyzes.