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In a democratic society, we politicians have to accept criticism, especially when it is founded.

Political ignorance helps explain Americans' perpetual disappointment with politicians generally, and presidents especially, to whom voters unrealistically attribute abilities to control events.

There are many causes why a people politically ignorant cannot be roused to action. Perfect political ignorance must be accompanied by indifference to the general interests of society, and thus one of the most powerful motives which can act on the human mind is totally destroyed.

It becomes obvious when people are sincere in their criticism and when they're not. I've learned over time that people will always have something to say.

Criticism is prejudice made plausible.

There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.

I am not God. Nor am I Phantom. I am ready to accept any criticism. I have been in politics for decades. Each and every day, in several media, there is criticism of me.

The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.

Throughout my political life, I've not been a stranger to controversy.

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.