"A politician is a person with whose politics you don't agree; if you agree with him he's a statesman"
- David Lloyd George
About this Quote
This quote by David Lloyd George is an amusing way of explaining the subjective nature of politics. It indicates that a political leader is only thought about as such when their views are not in line with the views of the person making the judgement. On the other hand, if the person making the judgement concurs with the politician's views, then they are thought about a statesman. This quote highlights the significance of viewpoint in politics, as the very same person can be viewed as either a politician or a statesman depending on the viewpoint of the observer. It likewise suggests that the opinion of the observer is more important than the actual views of the politician, as it is the viewpoint of the observer that identifies whether the political leader is seen as a politician or a statesman. Ultimately, this quote works as a tip that politics is a subjective matter and that the viewpoint of the observer is frequently more crucial than the real views of the politician.
"Well, I think any time you delve into this sort of religion, politics, as you well know, you're going to, you know, touch a few nerves. I wasn't - now - and this is the honest truth"