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

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...

All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness...

All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness...

Of all classes the rich are the most noticed and the least studied.

Of all classes the rich are the most noticed and the least studied.

Few people at the beginning of the nineteenth century needed an adman to tell them...

Few people at the beginning of the nineteenth century needed an adman to tell them...

Money differs from an automobile or mistress in being equally important to those who have...

Money differs from an automobile or mistress in being equally important to those who have...

You will find that the State is the kind of organization which, though it does...

You will find that the State is the kind of organization which, though it does...

Politics is the art of choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable.

Politics is the art of choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable.

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...

Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.

Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.

Meetings are indispensable when you don't want to do anything.

Meetings are indispensable when you don't want to do anything.

The Metropolis should have been aborted long before it became New York, London or Tokyo.

The Metropolis should have been aborted long before it became New York, London or Tokyo.

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...

Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory.

Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory.

There's a certain part of the contented majority who love anybody who is worth a...

There's a certain part of the contented majority who love anybody who is worth a...

The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking.

The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking.

If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.

If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.

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

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

Where humor is concerned there are no standards - no one can say what is...

Where humor is concerned there are no standards - no one can say what is...

I liked the premise of this material. I love the marriage relationship. They kind of...

I liked the premise of this material. I love the marriage relationship. They kind of...

Humor is merely tragedy standing on its head with its pants torn.

Humor is merely tragedy standing on its head with its pants torn.