Jean Chretien Quotes

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A proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven.

Jean Chretien

Funny, Kind, Proof

123 Copy quote
When you're a mayor and you have a problem you blame the provincial government. If you are provincial government and you have a problem you blame the federal government. We don't blame the Queen any more, so once in a while we might blame the Americans.

Jean Chretien

Queens, Government, Might

83 Copy quote
I don't know what is marijuana. Perhaps I will try it when it will no longer be criminal. I will have my money for my fine and a joint in the other hand

Jean Chretien

Weed, Marijuana, Hands

90 Copy quote
To be frank, politics is about wanting power, getting it, exercising it, and keeping it.

Jean Chretien

Exercise, Frank

Jean Chretien (2010). “My Years as Prime Minister”, p.3, Vintage Canada

58 Copy quote
A successful politician must not only be able to read the mood of the public, he must have the skill to get the public on his side. The public is moved by mood more than logic, by instinct more than reason, and that is something that every politician must make use of or guard against.

Jean Chretien

Successful, Skills, Use

"Straight from the Heart". Book by Jean Chretien, 1985.

32 Copy quote
To my mind losing is always better than never trying, because you can never tell what may happen.

Jean Chretien

Mind, Trying, May

"Straight From The Heart". Book by Jean Chretien, Chapter Nine: Main Street...Bay Street (p. 195), 1985.

50 Copy quote
Pierre Trudeau dreamed of a society that afforded all of its citizens an equal opportunity to succeed in life - whatever their background or beliefs, whether rich or poor.

Jean Chretien

Opportunity, Rich Or Poor, Citizens

"Chretien: Trudeau gave pride, strove for justice". www.cnn.com. September 28, 2000.

59 Copy quote
Canadian federalism is more than a form of government. It's also a system of values that allows different people in diverse communities to live and work together in harmony for the good of all.

Jean Chretien

Government, People, Community

Jean Chretien (2010). “My Years as Prime Minister”, p.115, Vintage Canada

39 Copy quote
I learned early that business is business and politics is politics. The proof is how few important businessmen have made good politicians. They may think that they are very smart about everything because they made millions of dollars by digging a hole in the ground and finding oil, but the talent and luck needed to become rich are not the same talent and luck needed to succeed on Parliament Hill.

Jean Chretien

Smart, Thinking, Digging A Hole

"Straight from the Heart". Book by Jean Chretien, 1985.

34 Copy quote
I've never believed in seeking perfection at the risk of losing everything.

Jean Chretien

Losing Everything, Perfection, Risk

"Straight From The Heart". Book by Jean Chretien (Chapter Eight "A New Constitution", p. 189), 1985.

6 Copy quote
A leader has to know how the system functions - not just the system of government but the whole social and economic system, including business, the unions, and the universities.

Jean Chretien

Government, Leader, Unions

"Straight From The Heart". Book by Jean Chrétien, 1985.

25 Copy quote
Politics is a game of friends.

Jean Chretien

Games

"Straight from the Heart". Book by Jean Chrétien, 1985.

7 Copy quote
Everybody has the right to speak up in a democracy. We would be in trouble as a society if there wasn't a constant pressure to make reforms and to be just. Sometimes as prime minister, when i was caught up in a really loud demonstration, I used to say to myself that I deserved it because of all the demonstrations I myself had organized as a student against Duplessis.

Jean Chretien

Democracy, Reform, Would Be

"My Years As Prime Minister". Book by Jean Chrétien, 2007.

42 Copy quote
President Bush is a friend of mine. He's not a moron at all.

Jean Chretien

President, President Bush, Moron

"Inside Politics Sunday" with Kelly Wallace, www.cnn.com. November 28, 2004.

20 Copy quote
There's no such thing as a genius in politics, or at least I have never met one. There are only human beings, some better than others, who rise or fall on the challenges they meet.

Jean Chretien

Fall, Challenges, Genius

Jean Chretien (2010). “My Years as Prime Minister”, p.211, Vintage Canada

12 Copy quote
I didn't feel the need to have a lot of yes-men standing around me. As Mitchell Sharp once put it, the bigger the staff, the smaller the minister.

Jean Chretien

Men, Needs, Staff

Jean Chretien (2010). “My Years as Prime Minister”, p.38, Vintage Canada

8 Copy quote
The art of politics is learning to walk with your back to the wall, your elbows high, and a smile on your face. It's a survival game played under the glare of lights.

Jean Chretien

Art, Wall, Light

"Straight From The Heart". Book by Jean Chretien, 1985.

37 Copy quote
Economics has been called the dismal science. Once you get to understand it, you may not find it so dismal, but you don't find it much of a science either.

Jean Chretien

May, Economics, Has Beens

"Straight From The Heart". Book by Jean Chretien, Chapter Five: A Balancing Act (p. 108), 1985.

26 Copy quote
Good intentions are not an excuse for maladministration of this magnitude.

Jean Chretien

Good Intentions, Excuse, Intention

27 Copy quote
A man can't ask for much more than the chance to make a difference in his chosen field of work. Politics is my vocation. I'm forever grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this great country of ours. I know I am a better person for it.

Jean Chretien

Country, Grateful, Opportunity

"Straight From The Heart". Book by Jean Chrétien, 1985.

38 Copy quote
I was stricken by news and television pictures coming from the United States this morning. It is impossible to fully comprehend the evil that would have conjured up such a cowardly and depraved assault upon thousands of innocent people. There can be no cause or grievance that could ever justify such unspeakable violence. Indeed, such an attack is an assault not only on the targets but an offense against the freedom and rights of all civilized nations.

Jean Chretien

Morning, Rights, People

37 Copy quote
Why buy repeater carbines and nuclear armament - if this is kept at home a child can play with it

Jean Chretien

Children, Home, Play

7 Copy quote
God gave me a physical defect, I've accepted that since I was a kid. When I was a kid people were laughing at me. But I accepted that because God gave me other qualities and I'm grateful.

Jean Chretien

Grateful, Kids, People

24 Copy quote
I was proud to have been the anti-establishment candidate after more than twenty years in politics, a small town guy fighting for the ordinary Canadian.

Jean Chretien

Fighting, Years, Guy

"Straight From The Heart". Book by Jean Chrétien, 1985.

7 Copy quote
It is not the government's purpose to make a profit the way a company does, because a company doesn't have to give a damn about the unemployed poor or provide services that are non-commercial by definition.

Jean Chretien

Government, Giving, Doe

"Straight From The Heart". Book by Jean Chretien, Chapter Five: A Balancing Act (p. 111-112), 1985.

24 Copy quote

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Born: January 11, 1934
Occupation: Former Prime Minister of Canada
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