Words of Wisdom on Voting and Consequences from Famous People

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Abraham Lincoln

“Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”

George Washington

Following his brief inaugural address to the Congress, President George Washington and his party walked over to St. Paul's Church for divine services. His prayer that afternoon was: 'Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large.'

Thomas Jefferson

The elective franchise, if guarded as the ark of our safety, will peaceably dissipate all combinations to subvert a Constitution, dictated by the wisdom, and resting on the will of the people.

The Jeffersonian Cyclopedia, John P. Foley, ed. (New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1900), p. 842.

Benjamin Franklin

“When the people find that they can vote themselves money that will herald the end of the republic.”

Joseph Stalin

The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.

George Carlin

Bipartisan usually means that a larger-than-usual deception is being carried out.

Woody Allen

We stand today at a crossroads: One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other leads to total extinction. Let us hope we have the wisdom to make the right choice.

Joseph P. Kennedy

Don’t buy a single vote more than necessary. I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay for a landslide.

Gore Vidal

By the time a man gets to be presidential material, he’s been bought ten times over.

Winston Churchill

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

Mark Twain

But in this country we have one great privilege which they don't have in other countries. When a thing gets to be absolutely unbearable the people can rise up and throw it off. That's the finest asset we've got -- the ballot box.

Will Rogers

"There is only one redeeming thing about this whole election. It will be over at sundown, and let everybody pray that it's not a tie, for we couldn't go through with this thing again.

And, when the votes are counted, let everybody, including the candidates, get into a good humor as quick as they got into a bad one.

Both gangs have been bad sports, so see if at least one can't redeem themselves by offering no alibis, but cooperate with the winner, for no matter which one it is the poor fellow is going to need it.

So cheer up. Let's all be friends again. One of the evils of democracy is you have to put up with the man you elect whether you want him or not. That's why we call it democracy."

DT #1953, Nov. 7, 1932.

Yogi Berra

"It ain't over till it's over!"

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