Charles Kennedy's Quotes

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

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

To run an effective political party you need a degree of tribalism, it's the glue that holds everyone together.

We would all rather see Iraq resolved successfully.

With 24-hour news... the story moves on with the media.

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

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

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.

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.

I can hardly think of an occasion when I've got into a stand-up fight with any political opponent. I've got my views, people know what they are, they can agree or they can choose to disagree. I'm not going to waste time just rubbishing everybody else.

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.

I want to see far more decisions taken far closer to the patients, the passengers and the pupils. Far more power for locally and regionally elected politicians who understand best the needs of their areas. And far more say too for the dedicated staff at all levels in health and education.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Courage is a peculiar kind of fear.