Politics is so personal, vicious and immediate, how are you going to get anything done? Even the local politics where I live have gotten so ugly.
Interpretation
Politics is deeply personal and often contentious, which can hinder effective progress.
In this quote, Robin Williams highlights the personal nature of politics, emphasizing how its viciousness and immediacy can obstruct meaningful achievements. He reflects on the deteriorating civility in political discussions, suggesting that the emotional and aggressive undertones prevalent in political discourse discourage constructive dialogue and action.
In practice
In a speech about local governance, one might quote Williams to emphasize the need for civility in politics.
It's that idea that you can have one drink - and no you can't. Within a week I was drinking heavily. It was so quick that even I was like, 'Wow.' Because you have that initial warm feeling going, 'Oh, I remember this'. And your body does, too. And your body goes, 'Yeah, so do I'. Then the demon voice comes, 'Yeah, so do I. You know what would be great? You know we bought a little bottle before? A full bottle would be wonderful'.
I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.
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I write on big yellow legal pads - ideas in outline form when I'm doing stand-up and stuff. It's vivid that way. I can't type it into an iPad - I think that would put a filter into the process.
I do not diminish the incredible symbolic importance of a black man getting elected president. But my euphoria was a smart guy getting elected president. Maybe for the first time in my lifetime we had elected one of the thousand smartest Americans president.
It has become more and more obvious that there is one political party in America, and that is The Business Party.
Whoever decides to dedicate their life to politics knows that earning money isn't the top priority.
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Give me your four year olds, and in a generation I will build a socialist state.
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