Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by James Lileks

Quote by James Lileks

“Look. Every partisan in every party has to learn one thing: Sometimes your people are wrong. To paraphrase an old retort, saying "My party, right or wrong" is like saying "My Kennedy, drunk or sober." Credibility is earned, and standing up and saying "Fie!" now and then reinforces your truthfulness.”

Quote by James Lileks

Create image

Author

James Lileks
James Lileks

James Lileks, born on August 9, 1958, is an American journalist whose career spans various fields, including cultural commentary, news reporting, and column writing. He is known for his unique writing style and profound insights into American culture. more

You May Also Like

“If the "rich" were swarming into poor neighborhoods and beating the poor until they coughed up the dimes they swallowed for safekeeping, yes, this would be a transfer of income from the poor to the rich. But allowing taxpayers to keep more of their money does not qualify as taking it from the poor - unless you believe that the poor have a moral claim to the money other people earn.”

PeopleIfsBelieveDoeWould BePoorMoralRichClaimsIncomeNeighborhoodAllowingTaxpayersTransfersDimesPoor Neighborhoods
Author:James Lileks
Create image

“When liberal celebs stammer out a litany of shopworn bleats about the administration's attempt to turn America into a theocratic prison state, people can't help but notice that these buskers and mummers seem unmoved by the horrors of actual prison states. (Saddam commissioned a copy of the Quran written in his own blood - but John Ashcroft is the real religious nut, don't you know.)”

PeopleKnowsRealStatesHelpingSeemsAmericaTurnsReligiousWrittenBloodHorrorPrisonAdministrationCopiesNutsSaddamQuranCelebs
Author:James Lileks
Create image

“What unnerves so many liberals about talk radio? Simple: It's the unapologetic nature of the conversation, the unwavering sense of certainty. Where's the nuance? The shades of gray? We all know truth is a fragile butterfly dancing in and out of shadow and light, and these guys act as though truth is a rhino charging across a sunlit veldt.”

KnowsLightGuySimpleTruth IsConversationShadowDancingRadioCertaintyGrayShadeFragileButterflyNuanceChargingUnwaveringTalk RadioUnapologeticShades Of GrayRhinos
Author:James Lileks
Create image

“You can imagine what the advisers are telling Junior Assad: "Your statues are much stronger than Saddam's. His were hollow, and bolted in place with inferior metal; yours are solid, and are anchored to a depth of three feet. Let the American tanks come! Their gears will strip and their engines whine in defeat as they attempt to pull down your statues!”

ThreeImagineFeetStrongerDepthDefeatEnginesMetalsInferiorsSaddamStatuesHollowTanksJuniorsGearsAdviserAssad
Author:James Lileks
Create image

“The International Criminal Court, like most international institutions, is a wonderful idea. A noble idea. All it needs to work is planetary government, worldwide democracy and the triumph of reason over tribal loyalties, political doctrines and individual ambition. In other words, it requires that we all live in the world described by the "Star Trek" television shows.”

WorldNeedsIdeasReasonShowsGovernmentPoliticalIndividualStarsDemocracyWonderfulTelevisionAmbitionInstitutionsCourtInternationalNobleCriminalsLoyaltyDoctrineTriumphTelevision Shows
Author:James Lileks
Create image