Do you know a lot about US Presidents and politics?
Do you wish to have a conversation about these topics in English?
We’re going to look at some of the more famous and humorous quotes in politics.
It’s great to learn about the lighter side of politics because you can still educate yourself about the culture, but in an enjoyable and more humorous way.
Get Your Transcripts Today!
Make sure you understand every word you hear on All Ears English.
Bring your English to the advanced level with new vocabulary and natural expressions.
Subscribe and get the transcripts delivered by email.
Learn to speak naturally with the American accent.
Click here to subscribe and save 50%
The Lighter Side of Politics
It may feel as if everything is heavy with politics these days.
There are so many important issues to discuss, and it’s no wonder that things are divided right now.
There is a lighter side to politics, and that usually centers around some of the more humorous quotes and trivia in this area.
Some people know a lot of trivia about presidents and politics, and that can be a great topic of conversation.
Today we are going to share some famous and funny political quotes that people tend to remember often.
Though these quotes may not have been intended the way that they came across, they can really make for some great and memorable points of discussion.
These quotes are very famous and humorous in some cases, you will hear them in cultural references often.
That means that they are important to know because they are a part of the culture.
Knowing these quotes and some of the trivia of politics can help you in a few important ways.
- Understand humor and references: You can really start to get an appreciation for the humor in these quotes. This can help you to understand the humor overall, which can be a helpful way of connecting. It also helps you to understand important references within politics that you may hear.
- Understand the news: This is a big part of the culture because the news is always there and constantly changing. You may start to really listen to things more carefully. You may start to watch the news more and therefore become more involved in the culture.
- Learn about history to give you a broader knowledge on the topic: This is huge because learning about history is a great way to become ingrained in the culture. When you learn about this side of politics, it gives you a lesson in history that is quite valuable.
You may wish to watch old episodes of SNL, or even more current ones.
This is a show that can offer you some humor and insight into politics and important issues within the culture.
Memorable Funny Political Quotes
There are some quotes that really capture some of the humor in politics.
Though they may not have been intended to be funny, they sure are memorable for the humor that they offer.
Let’s go over a few of them, so you can see the funny and memorable parts of politics.
- “Binders of women…” This was said by Mitt Romney in the 2012 debate. What he meant to say was that he had resumes of women, but this was mocked and it sounded silly at the time.
- “It’s the economy stupid.” This was said by James Carville in 1992 right in the midst of Clinton’s campaign. It was memorable and that’s what matters.
- “I can see Russia from my house.” This was said in an SNL skit about Sarah Palin when she was a VP candidate in 2008. She didn’t actually say this, but it was a perfect part of a skit about her. SNL really made this quote but many people think it’s really what she said and got adapted to that–it’s memorable and funny. What she actually said was “Let’s start, because we are near Russia, let’s start with Russia. They’re our next door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.”
- “Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?” This was said by George Bush in Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000
- “Read my lips: No new taxes….” This was said by George HW Bush in 1988 and of course taxes were raised shortly after this.
- “I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” This was said by Reagan in the 1984 debates against Walter Mondale who was 73 at the time. Someone asked about his age and this is what was said.
Sometimes politicians get themselves into trouble when they say something, whether they meant it in a certain way or not.
This can cost them some votes or influence their reputation, but it can also make for some humorous and memorable quotes.
Using These As Good Conversation Starters
These are great ways to talk about politics, and you can use quotes to relate to other periods in history.
You can also share quotes from politicians you know of because you likely have a lot to say.
The truth is that people enjoy learning about other countries and their politics, so these are actually good conversation starters as well.
If you want to get the conversation going in this area, here are a few things that you can use or say.
- “I remember once, __________ said ______________”
- “It was a huge news story when ___________ discussed ______________”
- “This politician is known for______. Once he/she said________________”
- Give some examples of different things that happened or different things famous politicians said
These are all great ways of getting the conversation going around politics.
Though they may involve direct quotes, these can work quite well and be a great way to talk and connect with others about politics.
Takeaway
Politics are important, and sometimes politicians say really great things and sometimes they are humorous whether they are meant to be or not.
Learning about these things will help you to improve your English and understand US culture a bit more.
Try watching some political TV shows, and even fiction as well.
These can make for good conversation starters and can be a great way to talk about politics in general.
If you have any questions, please leave them below in the comments section.
We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
