Josiah Bartlet quotes from The West Wing

Bartlet

I thought when the Soviet Union fell, we could actually have disarmament. You go from trying to get rid of these weapons altogether to holding your breath that one doesn't go off on your watch. Strike another goal off the list.

Bartlet

Hans Bethe wrote, "If we fight a war and win it with H-Bombs, what history will remember is not the ideals we were fighting for, but the methods used to accomplish them. These methods will be compared to the warfare of Genghis Khan who brutally killed every last inhabitant of Persia.

Bartlet

Anybody got any crayons so I can color in my Ph. D.?

Bartlet

Damn it, Shira, if I'm going to find the people behind this, I need access to the bomb site, access to the evidence and the cooperation of the Palestinian Authority, three things I cannot get if you keep firing missiles into Gaza!

Bartlet

I'm not bombing half the Middle East because it's going to make us all feel better.

Bartlet

Whether you choose to do this today or ten years from today, you will face the same geography, the same neighbors, the same ancient animosities. More years of bloodshed and pain will not change those facts. The only path to a real and lasting peace is through negotiation.

Bartlet

[to CJ] I'm noticing a distinct slackening of awe, a certain lack of trembling in my presence.

Bartlet

[about to be carried downstairs] I'm just saying, you drop me, that's a moment that follows you the rest of your life.

Bartlet

I'm in one meeting the whole day. All they did was feed me tea made with Tienchi Ginseng and deer horn glue. You see, it's the thing for the nerve damage. But that meant I had to piss every twelve minutes, which is more of an ordeal than it was when I could stand without assistance. The new kid, Curtis, and I are becoming very close.

Bartlet

If I'd wanted to exercise, I'd have never become an economist.

Bartlet

All I have in this situation is influence. Influence and relationships. If you take that away from me, I am powerless!

Bartlet

The only thing you can pray for in this job is the strength to get through the day. You can try coffee if you want but prayer works better for me.

Bartlet

Werner Von Braun's autobiography was titled 'I Aim for the Stars.' Mort Sahl joked, he should have added 'Only Sometimes I Hit London.'

Bartlet

A national security leak during the Democratic convention! Are we working for the Republicans now? They're going to whack us for the security leak and then whack us again for dithering over saving the lives of brave astronauts.

Bartlet

Toby, when you walk out of here, there will be people out there, perhaps a great many, who will think of you as a hero. I just don't for a moment want you thinking I'll be one of them.