Quotes By Charles Kennedy

Politicians are good at saying how Government must do more, but we must also think carefully about where Government should do less.

I'm not someone who dwells upon past events, taking the view that life is too short.

You won't catch Liberal Democrats describing trade unionists as wreckers.

The point never to lose sight of is to be guided by the correct thing, as you see it. It's the only way to approach such profound matters and retain your integrity.

There are hard choices to be made in balancing the country's security and an individual's liberties. But it is a choice that has to be faced.

My health is good and it's up to me to keep it that way.

The quicker we get rid of the lobby system the better for all of us. I don't think in this day and age it is tenable to have these nods and winks, and on-the-record and off-the-record briefings.

I couldn't imagine a day without music. It relaxes and stimulates me in equal measure and I hate the sound of silence - the concept, I mean, not the track by Simon and Garfunkel.

There stands no contradiction between giving voice to legitimate anxiety and at the same time, as and when exchange of fire commences, looking to the rest of the country, as well as all of us in the House, to give full moral support to our forces.

People are not stupid.

I will go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket.

Politics is much too serious to be taken too seriously; equally, there are many aspects of it so laughable as to be lamentable.

For any new leader of any party at any given time it takes time if you are not in government to establish yourself.

Three simple words - freedom, justice and honesty. These sum up what the Liberal Democrats stand for.

I don't want a headline saying 'Kennedy suggests this or implies that.'

To be seen to be human, provided you're doing your job at the same time, is definitely not a negative, not at all.

Music and politics are in essence about communication. Without over-stretching the analogy I do feel a sense of rhythm is important in getting your message across.

I believe that access to a university education should be based on the ability to learn, not what people can afford. I think there is no more nauseating a sight than politicians pulling up the ladder of opportunity behind them.

My approach is always to try to be straight with people, especially about what my party can achieve.

If you were to describe me as teetotal, on behalf of my constituency I'd have to sue; that would lose me every vote in the Highlands.

We would all rather see Iraq resolved successfully.

I'm a fully paid-up member of the human race.

I am genuinely not an over-the-top kind of person about politics or anything else.

I should do something about the cigarettes; I quite accept that it's bad for your health, but you know a moderate tipple is positively beneficial and, at certain times, absolutely essential.

Actually, I think it's quite sensible not to take yourself too seriously.

We should have high expectations of our children, but politicians should not tell teachers how to meet them.

We Liberal Democrats believe in dialogue. We believe in cooperation with both sides of industry and between both sides of industry. And we believe in the language of cooperation. We reject the language of confrontation.

Courage is a peculiar kind of fear.

Yes, you need substance in politics - but I think your style also says something about how you arrive at some of your conclusions.

Further Education should be about the ability to learn, not the ability to pay - everyone who is able should have the opportunity, regardless of their family background. I don't want to see students struggling with huge debts or frightened off even going to university in the first place.