Tony Benn quotes

" ... Ideas are more powerful than guns. " # Power

" A faith is something you die for, a doctrine is something you kill for. There is all the difference in the world. " # Doctrine # Faith # Death and Dying

" Most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure. " # Photography # Pleasure # Love

" We are not just here to manage capitalism but to change society and to define its finer values. " # Politicians and Politics # Capitalism # Change

" The House of Lords is the British Outer Mongolia for retired politicians. " # Politicians and Politics # Age and Aging # Retirement

" I did not enter the labor Party forty-seven years ago to have our manifesto written by Dr. Mori, Dr. Gallup and Mr. Harris. " # Polls # Politicians and Politics # Age and Aging

" It's the same each time with progress. First they ignore you, then they say you're mad, then dangerous, then there's a pause and then you can't find anyone who disagrees with you. " # Progress # Ignorance # Danger

" All war represents a failure of diplomacy. " # War # Diplomacy # World Affairs

" The flag of racialism which has been hoisted in Wolverhampton is beginning to look like the one that fluttered 25 years ago over Dachau and Belsen. " # War

" Change from below, the formulation of demands from the populace to end unacceptable injustice, supported by direct action, has played a far larger part in shaping British democracy than most constitutional lawyers, political commentators, historians or statesmen have ever cared to admit. Direct action in a democratic society is fundamentally an educational exercise. " # Politicians and Politics