“It is hard for any one to be an honest politician who is not born and bred a Dissenter.”
"On Court-Influence" (January 3/January 10, 1818)
Political Essays (1819)
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William Hazlitt 186
English writer 1778–1830Related quotes

Joining with Amnesty International in condemning the Russian authorities’ treatment of Pussy Riot, a Russian punk rock protest band. "Sting condemns Russia's treatment of Pussy Riot musicians ahead of Moscow concert" Amnesty International (25 July 2012) http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/sting-condemns-russias-treatment-pussy-riot-musicians-ahead-moscow-concert-2012-07-25

“A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar.”

“I believe that almost all politicians are honest.”
This I Believe (1952)
Context: I believe that almost all politicians are honest. For every bribed alderman there are hundreds of politicians, low paid or not paid at all, doing their level best without thanks or glory to make our system work. If this were not true, we would never have gotten past the thirteen colonies.

“Politicians are not born; they are excreted.”
"The Intellectual in America" (1955), from A Sad Heart at the Supermarket (1962)
General sources

“Nations are born in the hearts of poets; they prosper and then die in the hands of politicians.”
Stray reflections http://www.allamaiqbal.com/works/prose/english/strayreflections/index.htm