62 Quotes by Paddy Ashdown

The generous way of putting it is that we were not ready for this. The less generous way is to say: How was it possible to return to the politics of appeasement of the 1930s?

I can create institutions, but I can't rewrite the chips in people's heads.

I was told there would be riots in the streets, but there were no riots.

It would be a foolish high representative who worked that way.

It's not my job to be popular. I'm goal-driven; my job is to get results.

People do not want politicians they know to be corrupt.

What my future will not be is active politics in the Liberal Democrat party.

I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have to have the capitals' broad agreement with what I do.

I love this country, I love these people, though I can't say I love their politicians. People are always nicer than politicians, but here, you can mark that difference up a hundredfold.