71 Quotes by Chris Patten

In democracy everyone has the right to be represented, even the jerks.

I think that what most surprises anybody who goes into politics from even a modestly cerebral background is the vulgarity of much of the cut and thrust of politics.

It is a sort of great Victorian truth that actually, trying to do the right thing is pretty good for you and pretty good for business as well, by and large.

I suppose I've always carried what is regarded as a bit of unnecessary baggage in Britain. I've always carried the charge that I am an intellectual in politics.

We are profoundly disappointed that Zimbabwe's parliament has passed this law, which represents a fundamental attack on media freedom,

Most worrying for me in China is the stoking up of nationalist sentiment as an alternative to, I think, moral fervor that used to accompany Communism. I hope that the Chinese authorities will be careful about that.

Only a state which is terrified of the truth resorts to sending men in masks into television and radio studios, ... Only a regime determined to try to cut Serbia off completely from the rest of Europe could conceive of behaving in this way.

Politicians in Colombo recognize that they do have to work together in order to provide a common position for dealing with the (Tamil Tigers),

Nobody, repeat nobody, that I've met from the major political parties in Colombo have raised any question or doubt about my visit at all.