George Washington Plunkitt: Politics

“Say, ain’t some of the papers awful gullible about politics? p. 59”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 14 Tammany the Only Lastin’ Democracy

“The politician who steals is worse than a thief. He is a fool. With the grand opportunities all around for the man with a political pull, there’s no excuse for stealin’ a cent. p. 32”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 7, On The Shame of the Cities

Fools

“Men ain’t in politics for nothin’. They want to get somethin’ out of it. p. 37”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 9, Reciprocity in Patronage

Men

“I've been studyin’ the political game for forty-five years, and I don’t know it all yet. I’m learnin’ somethin’ all the time. How, then, can you expect what they call “business men” to turn into politics all at once and make a success of it? p. 19”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 4, Reformers Only Mornin’ Glories

Men , Game , Business , Time

“They learned how to put up a pretty good bluff—and bluff counts a lot in politics. p. 18”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 4, Reformers Only Mornin’ Glories

Learning

“I rope them all in by givin’ them opportunities to show themselves off. I don’t trouble them with political arguments. I just study human nature and act accordin’. p. 26”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 6, To Hold Your District: Study Human Nature and Act Accordin’

Nature , Study

“I want to add that no matter how well you learn to play the political game, you won’t make a lastin’ success of it if you're a drinkin’ man. p. 77”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 19, The Successful Politician Does Not Drink

Game , Learning , Success

“The politicians who make a lastin’ success in politics are the men who are always loyal to their friends, even up to the gate of State prison, if necessary; men who keep their promises and never lie. p. 35”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 8, Ingratitude in Politics

Men , Lie , Success

“Some young men think they can learn how to be successful in politics from books, and they cram their heads with all sorts of college rot. They couldn’t make a bigger mistake. p. 7”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 2, How to Become a Statesman

Men , Books , Thinking , Learning

“Putin’ on style don’t pay in politics. p. 50”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 12, Dangers of the Dress Suit in Politics

“Politics is as much a regular business as the grocery or the dry-goods or the drug business. You've got to be trained up to it or you're sure to fail. p. 19”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 4, Reformers Only Mornin’ Glories

Business , Training

“That’s the a, b, c of politics. It ain’t easy work to get up to q and z. You have to give nearly all your time and attention to it. p. 20”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 4, Reformers Only Mornin’ Glories

Time

“There’s the biggest kind of a difference between political looters and politicians who make a fortune out of politics by keepin’ their eyes wide open. The looter goes in for himself alone without considerin’ his organization or his city. The politician looks after his own interests, the organization’s interests, and the city’s interests all at the same time. See the distinction? p. 29”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 7, On The Shame of the Cities

Time

“Richard Croker used to say that tellin’ the truth and stickin’ to his friends was the political leader’s stock in trade. p. 35”

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, Chapter 8, Ingratitude in Politics

Truth