Joseph Gurney Cannon quotes

Nearly all legislation is the result of compromise. (Joseph Gurney Cannon)
I would rather quit public life at seventy, and quit it forever, than to retain public life at a sacrifice to my own self-respect. I will not vote for any law which will make fair for me and foul for another. The blacklist is the most cruel form of oppression ever devised by man for the infliction of suffering upon his weaker fellows. View quote
Joseph Gurney Cannon
In legislation we all do a lot of swapping tobacco across the lines. View quote
Joseph Gurney Cannon
In the last analysis sound judgment will prevail. View quote
Joseph Gurney Cannon
Mr. Cannon has told how he put through an appropriation for the entertainment of Prince Henry of Prussia when that foreign visitor came over years ago. He prearranged with Oscar W. Underwood, then in the House, that he would propose the appropriation late in the afternoon, when the House attendance was slim. Mr. Underwood, representing objecting Democrats, was to kick strenuously for a time about the cost of entertaining the prince; then Underwood was reluctantly to withdraw his opposition, the chances being no other Democrat would take it up. The 'Swapping of tobacco' across the aisles worked and the appropriation went through. View quote
Joseph Gurney Cannon
Not one cent for scenery. View quote
Joseph Gurney Cannon
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, and you can't change human nature from intelligent self-interest into pure idealism-not in this life; and if you could, what would be left for paradise? View quote
Joseph Gurney Cannon