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Sam Rayburn Quotes

1882–1961 United States

Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn (6 January 1882 – 16 November 1961) was an American politician who served as the 43rd speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He was a three-time House speaker, former House majority leader, two-time House minority leader, and a 24-term congressman, representing Texas's 4th congressional district as a Democrat from 1913 to 1961.

United States
Baptists
Politicians

Random Sam Rayburn quote

7 quotes

You'll never get mixed up if you simply tell the truth. Then you don't have to remember what you have said, and you never forget what you have said.

A jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build one.

Said during filmed conversation with reporters (1953)

Learn to disagree without being disagreeable.

Advice to new congressmen (1949)

You cannot be a leader, and ask other people to follow you, unless you know how to follow, too

Too many critics mistake the deliberations of the Congress for its decisions.

Well, Lyndon, you may be right and they may be every bit as intelligent as you say, but I'd feel a whole lot better about them if just one of them had run for sheriff once.

Don't try to go too fast. Learn your job. Don't ever talk until you know what you're talking about... If you want to get along, go along.

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Sam Rayburn (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.