Murray Kempton Quotes

Most popular Murray Kempton Quotes

No great scoundrel is ever uninteresting.
— Murray Kempton in Newsday (Long Island, New York)

greatness

To be a gentleman is to be oneself, all of a seam, on camera and off.
— Murray Kempton America Comes of Age

be yourself gentleman authenticity

The beauty of a strong, lasting commitment is often best understood by a man incapable of it.
— Murray Kempton Part of Our Time

commitment

A political convention is just not a place where you come away with any trace of faith in human nature.
— Murray Kempton

politicians

Always pretend to be stupid; then when you have to show yourself smart, the display has the additional effect of surprise.
— Murray Kempton Rebellions, Perversities, and Main Events

stupidity

To say that an idea is fashionable is to say, I think, that it has been adulterated to a point where it is hardly an idea at all.
— Murray Kempton Part of Our Time

ideas

Every now and then, in the course of great events, the elements of tradition and innovation ally themselves and each other's weakness supplements the other and together they achieve the perfect debacle.