“A politician is a statesman who approaches every question with an open mouth.”

— Adlai Stevenson

Quoted in The Fine Art of Political Wit by Leon Harris (1964)

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Adlai Stevenson 131

mid-20th-century Governor of Illinois and Ambassador to the… 1900–1965

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“Some people approach every problem with an open mouth.”

Adlai Stevenson (1900–1965) mid-20th-century Governor of Illinois and Ambassador to the UN

As quoted in The Wordsworth Dictionary of Quotations (1998) by Connie Robertson.
Similar statements by others:
Mr. Hogg observed facetiously that interpreters were rather like politicians: they are people who approach every problem with an open mouth.
Quintin Hogg, as quoted in Annual Review of United Nations Affairs (1949) by Clyde Eagleton, p. 136.
Modern diplomats approach every problem with an open mouth.
Arthur J. Goldberg, as quoted in Affronts, Insults and Indignities (1975) by Morris Mandel

“I'm proud that I'm a politician. A politician is a man who understands government, and it takes a politician to run a government. A statesman is a politician who's been dead 10 or 15 years.”

Harry Truman (1884–1972) American politician, 33rd president of the United States (in office from 1945 to 1953)

As quoted in The New York World Telegram & Sun (12 April 1958)
Source: Impromptu remarks http://books.google.com/books?id=2Tu3bScwKKAC&q=%22I'm+proud+that+I'm+a+politician+A+politician+is+a+man+who+understands+government+and+it+takes+a+politician+to+run+a+government+A+statesman+is+a+politician+who's+been+dead+10+or+15+years%22&pg=PT289#v=onepage before the Reciprocity Club, Washington, D.C. (11 April 1958)

“No man with a genius for legislation has appeared in America. They are rare in the history of the world. There are orators, politicians, and eloquent men, by the thousand; but the speaker has not yet opened his mouth to speak who is capable of settling the much-vexed questions of the day.”

Henry David Thoreau book Civil Disobedience

Civil Disobedience (1849)

“A politician … is a man who thinks of the next election; while the statesman thinks of the next generation.”

James Freeman Clarke (1810–1888) American theologian and writer

" Wanted, a Statesman! http://books.google.com/books?id=oSNYAAAAYAAJ&q=%22A+politician%22+%22is+a+man+who+thinks+of+the+next+election+while+the+statesman+thinks+of+the+next+generation%22&pg=PA644#v=onepage", Old and New magazine, December 1870.

“So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!”

Dr. Seuss book One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

Horton Hears a Who! (1954)
Source: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Context: "This", cried the Mayor, "is your town's darkest hour!
The time for all Whos who have blood that is red
To come to the aid of their country!", he said.
"We've GOT to make noises in greater amounts!
So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!"

“A politician is a person with whose politics you don't agree; if you agree with him he's a statesman.”

David Lloyd George (1863–1945) Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

As quoted in The British System of Government (1965) by Dilwyn Thomas
Undated

“Librarians, Dusty, possess a vast store of politeness. These are people who get asked regularly the dumbest questions on God's green earth. These people tolerate every kind of crank and eccentric and mouth-breather there is.”

Garrison Keillor (1942) American radio host and writer

"Cowboy Librarians" (13 December 1997)
A Prairie Home Companion
Source: Dusty and Lefty: The Lives of the Cowboys

“An open mind is really a mark of foolishness, like an open mouth. Mouths and minds were made to shut; they were made to open only in order to shut.”

G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English mystery novelist and Christian apologist

Original quote:
For my friend said that he opened his intellect as the sun opens the fans of a palm tree, opening for opening's sake, opening infinitely for ever. But I said that I opened my intellect as I opened my mouth, in order to shut it again on something solid. I was doing it at the moment. And as I truly pointed out, it would look uncommonly silly if I went on opening my mouth infinitely, for ever and ever.
The Extraordinary Cabman, one of many essays collected in Tremendous Trifles (1909)
Misattributed

“Speech and silence. We feel safer with a madman who talks than with one who cannot open his mouth.”

Emil M. Cioran (1911–1995) Romanian philosopher and essayist

The New Gods (1969)

“Where is the weapon with which I enforce your bondage? You give it to me every time you open your mouth.”

Frank Herbert (1920–1986) American writer

"Laclac Riddle"; p. 68
The Bureau of Sabotage series, Whipping Star (1969)

“A politician is a statesman who approaches every question with an open mouth.”

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Adlai Stevenson 131

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