Top 65 quotes by Richard Nixon

This politician's thinking shows the social climate that existed during the Cold War.

Richard Nixon was one of the most controversial presidents of the United States of America, among other things for his involvement in the Watergate scandal and for his participation in coup initiatives in Latin America. His mandate, in the midst of the Cold War, was a reflection of an era characterized by confrontation and constant fear.

Taking a look at Richard Nixon's most memorable quotes serves to better understand his way of thinking and the social and political climate of a period in the second half of the 20th century.

Richard Nixon Quotes

The following are some of Richard Nixon's most outstanding phrases, which give a glimpse of his philosophy and his way of doing politics.

1. I have disappointed my friends, I have disappointed my country.

A phrase that hints at the extent to which, in politics, actions taken affect both the public and private spheres.

I just want to say one thing; I have won and I have lost, but winning is the most fun.

A look back to assess a life marked by access to power.

3. Those who do not take risks will not suffer defeats, however, they will never have victories.

About the need to put oneself to the test and tempt fate in order to obtain great results.

4. The highest honor that History can bestow on a man is the title of peacemaker.

About the way History treats its most outstanding figures.

5. Any nation that decides that the only way to achieve peace is through peaceful methods will soon be part of another nation.

This is one of Richard Nixon's phrases that express his departure from idealism.

6. Politics is the art of the possible in the service of the people. But I believe that the limits of the possible can be widened through effort, intelligence, solidarity and trust.

A list of different personal qualities to which must be added the possibility of exercising politics.

7. I do not have the resignation of my parents and I do not fully share this philosophy. But their patience, their courage, their willingness not to let themselves be discouraged, whatever the physical and emotional stress, is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. And that sustained me, by the way, in difficult times. And it will always sustain me.

A reflection on a value to be vindicated: effort and the ability to work hard.

8. You will not have Nixon to mistreat him anymore, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference.

Another of this politician's statements that reveal the erosion of his credibility after his time as president.

9. We promise to always tell the truth, to see things as they are and to tell them as they are; to find the truth, to tell the truth and to live with the truth.

Emphasizing once again how much we insist on the value of honesty and transparency in politics, regardless of what is done in practice.

10. Nobody cares about Latin America.

One of Nixon's most controversial phrases.

11. What I am trying to say is that if the President does it, then it is not illegal.

Clearly showing a double standard.

12. Certainly, in the next 50 years we are going to see a woman president, maybe sooner than you think. 13. A woman can and should be able to hold any kind of political office that a man can hold.

A statement in favor of equality in times marked by a clear machismo.

14. A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he gives up.

About the importance of not giving up.

15. The people must know whether their president is a thief or not.

About the need to maintain credibility.

19. To make the Chilean economy squeak.

A phrase related to the government of Salvador Allende.

17. A major obstacle in our clean energy program is the fact that we cannot currently burn coal or oil without discharging their sulfur content into the air. We need a new technology that makes it possible to remove the sulfur before it is emitted into the air.

A reflection on part of the environmental measures to be undertaken.

18. A public man must never forget that he loses his usefulness when he as an individual, rather than his policy, becomes the issue.

On the need to put personal interests aside.

19. Voters quickly forget what a man says.

On the imperfection of rational voter analysis.

20. The press is the enemy.

On the power that journalism can accumulate when it comes to scrutinizing politicians.

21. The longer you stay in this kind of work, the more you realize that a public figure, an important public figure, is a lonely man.

Access to power isolates you from others.

22. It pays the same to do something half done as to finish it. Therefore it is better to finish it.

On the need to give a completion to the projects undertaken.

23. You know, it's kind of funny: every one of these bastards who want to legalize marijuana is Jewish. What the hell is wrong with these Jews, Bob? I guess it's that most of them are psychiatrists.

A clearly ethnicist comment by Richard Nixon.

24. As this long and difficult war comes to an end, I would like to address a special word to the American people: their steadfastness in supporting our insistence on peace with honor has made peace with honor possible.

One of President Nixon's propagandistic and patriotic statements.

25. I can see clearly now...that I had been wrong in not acting more decisively and more frankly in dealing with Watergate.

An assessment of the case that ended his political life.

26. It is necessary for me to establish a winning image. Therefore, I have to beat someone.

A reflection that shows once again Nixon's Machiavellian vision of politics.

27. You must follow this Watergate investigation, even if it leads to the presidency. I am innocent. You have to believe that I am innocent. If you don't, take my job.

More of Nixon's statements about the Watergate scandal.

28. Life is not meant to be easy. It's hard to accept being on top - or at the bottom. I guess I'm something of a fatalist.

A phrase about the importance that hierarchical systems had for Nixon..

29. I think, to survive some of these things..... Life is one crisis after another.

Another look at this politician's philosophy of life.

30. Very seldom can you go in and change the situation if the forces of history are running in another direction.

About the limited power of the individual.

31. Once you get into this great current of history, you can't get out.

Again, a comment based on determinism.

32. I do not believe that a leader can control, to any great extent, his destiny.

About free will.

33. Americans admire people who can scratch a desert and produce a garden. Israelis have demonstrated qualities that Americans identify with: grit, patriotism, idealism, passion for freedom.

A commentary on his vision of Israel.

34. People react to fear, not love.

About human emotionality.

35. If you want to make beautiful music, you have to play black and white notes together.

A reflection on the duality of political actions: good for some, bad for others.

36. I reject the cynical view that politics is a dirty business.

On the moral character of politics.

37. Politics would be a good business, if it were not for the people.

About the way in which people corrupt ideals..

38. Remember: always give your best. Don't be discouraged. Never be mean.

One of Richard Nixon's phrases with a clear moralistic character.

39. Government can provide opportunities. But opportunity means nothing if people are not willing to take advantage of it.

Beyond opportunity is action.

40. In the age of television, the fundamental distinction is between the candidate who can speak in poetry and the one who can only speak in prose.

On the importance of the ability to seduce.

41. I have played by the rules of politics as I found them.

Nixon believed that all the actions of a politician are bounded by the set of rules that govern the context of his actions.

42. Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver. Finishing second in politics leads to oblivion.

A comparison that shows the harshness of the world of politics.

Watergate had become the center of the media universe.

About what the introduction of a topic in the media agenda can change.

44. Let us begin by committing ourselves to the truth, to see things as they are.

Seeing things objectively is also an action with social repercussions.

45. A true politician is always half expecting to be invited to give a speech.

On the way of life of politicians.

46. The Cold War is not melting, but burning with deadly heat. Communism is not sleeping.

Another of Nixon's phrases linked to the era in which he served as a politician: the Cold War..

47. I know nothing of what builds the will to win better than competitive sports.

Sports competition can be an expression of triumphs in other aspects of life.

48. In the long run, we may hope that religion will change man's nature and reduce conflict. But history is not encouraging in this regard. The bloodiest wars in history have been religious wars.

On the role of religion in history.

We do not learn by inference and deduction and the application of mathematics to philosophy, but by direct relationships and sympathy.

On the importance of emotions in our daily life, above reason.

50. No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and now it is misremembered.

Nixon complained about an alleged manipulation concerning the Vietnam War.

51. Only if you have been in the deepest valley can you know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.

About our ability to value success.

52. Never bow your head. Never give up, never sit down, never grieve. Find another way.

A motivational phrase about growth in adversity.

53. The American dream does not come to those who sleep.

About the need to get out of the comfort zone.

What kind of nation will we be, what kind of world will we live in, if we shape the future in the image of our hopes? It is our power to determine it by our actions and our choices.

Beyond ideals, we must be involved in getting what we want.

55. Do you want to make a comment or do you want to make a change?

Relieving tension by complaining can be an excuse for doing nothing.

56. Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that.

A peculiar understanding of sovereignty.

57. The Kremlin would like nothing better than to have the people of this country elect a second-rate president.

Once again, Nixon is talking about putting the spotlight on an external enemy when assessing U.S. domestic policy.

58. We cannot learn from each other until we stop shouting at each other, until we speak softly so that our words can be heard as well as our voices.

On the need for dialogue.

59. If, when things go wrong, the most powerful nation in the world, the United States of America, acts like a pitiful and helpless giant, the forces of totalitarianism and anarchy will threaten free nations and free institutions around the world.

An alarmist statement related to the martial atmosphere of the Cold War.

60. Never let your head drop. Never give up, sit down and cry. Find another way. And don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines.

A phrase about resilience.

61. Never say no when a customer asks for something, even if it's the moon. You can always try, and anyway there is plenty of time later to explain that it was not possible.

A way of looking at relationships marked by transactions.

62. What a strange creature is the man who makes a mistake in his own nest.

Another of Nixon's phrases about the imperfections of the human being.

63. The two hardest words to say are: "I was wrong".

About how difficult it is to admit mistakes.

64. Idealism without realism is impotent. Realism without idealism is immoral.

About the dialectic between these two moral principles.

65. Communism denies God, enslaves men, and destroys justice.

One of Nixon's phrases about what was considered "un-American" at the time.