50+ West Wing Quotes That Take Us Right Into The Oval Office

'The West Wing' is a political drama created by Aaron Sorkin.

The series is set primarily in the White House during the fictitious term of President Jed Bartlet. The second season's finale episode, 'Two Cathedrals', is known as the best episode of the series and has been well received by critics and fans alike.

'The West Wing' has a huge fan following thanks to its complex characters and exceptional storytelling and ranks among some of the best television shows of all time. The show has raked rave reviews from critics and even from some political science Professors.

It has won three Golden Globe Awards as well as 26 Primetime Emmy Awards for its excellence.

For more related content take a look at these 'Twin Peaks' quotes and 'True Detective' quotes.

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The Best ‘West Wing’ Quotes

Here are some of the finest 'The West Wing' quotes portraying the political side of the world from the perspective of politicians.

1. “Bad people can’t be recognized on sight. There’s no point in trying.”

— Toby Ziegler, ‘Manchester’, season three, episode one.

2. “You're a smart, savvy woman, who could easily consider world domination as a next career move.”

— Charlie Young, ‘Election Day Part I’, season seven, episode 16.

3. “Zoey: You're such a good guy. You were raised in horror, what is it along the way that made you a good guy?

Charlie: I try to eat right.”

— ‘Commencement’, season four, episode 21.

4. “Their intent is good. Their commitment is true. They are righteous, and they are patriots. And I’m their lawyer.”

— Ainsley Hayes, ‘In This White House’, season two, episode four.

5. “We came out of the cave and we looked over the hill and we saw fire. And we crossed the ocean and we pioneered the West and we took to the sky. The history of man is hung on a timeline of exploration, and this is what’s next.”

— Sam Seaborn, ‘Galileo’, season two, episode nine.

6. “Look, if you think we're wrong, then I respect that. But if you think we're right and you won't speak up because you can't be bothered, then God, Jed, I don't even want to know you.”

— Mrs. Landingham, ‘Two Cathedrals’, season two, episode 22.

7.  “Schools should be incredibly expensive for government and absolutely free of charge for its citizens, just like national defense. That is my position. I just haven’t figured out how to do it yet.”

— Sam Seaborn, ‘Six Meetings Before Lunch’, season one, episode, 18.

8. “You’re going to go in there. You’re going to swear an oath. You’re going to get asked questions. You’re going to tell the truth. It’s the way you stand up and say, 'Stop!'”

— Oliver Babish, ‘Gone Quiet’, season three, episode six.

9. “Hold up all the appointments you want. Shut down the government 'cause a teacher did as she was told. You'll have given us a second term and we won't even have to leave the building.”

—Leo McGarry, ‘20 Hours In America"’, season four, episode one.

10. “President Bartlet: This game isn't all about size, you know. There's a little thing called heart and you've got it, my friend.

Toby: You know what, old man? The very minute they swear in the next guy you and I are going round and round.”

— ‘Hartsfield's Landing’, season three, episode 14.

11. “She should stick around. Your whole campaign is like some Dr. Seuss nightmare – one fish, two fish, dead fish, we fought the good fight fish.”

— Donna Moss, ‘Opposition Research’, season six, episode 11.

12. “Don’t go for the geniuses. They never want to sleep.”

— Abbey Bartlet, ‘He Shall From Time To Time’, season one, episode 12.

13. “I like you guys who want to reduce the size of government - make it just small enough so it can fit in our bedrooms.”

— Josh Lyman, ‘The Portland’, season two, episode seven.

Famous ‘West Wing’ Quotes

'The West Wing' is known as one of the best drama series revolving around politics and has many well-known quotes! Here are some of the most famous 'The West Wing' quotes.

14. “It's our history. For better or worse. We're not gonna lock it in the basement or brush it with a new coat of paint. It's our history.”

— Abbey Bartlet, ‘The State Dinner’, season one, episode seven.

15. “I believe that my powers of debate can rise to meet the Socratic wonder that is the White House press corps.”

— Josh Lyman, ‘Celestial Navigation’, season one, episode 15.

16. “What do you say about a government that goes out of its way to protect citizens that try to destroy it?”

— Josh Lyman, ‘The Midterms’, season two, episode three.

17. “The things we do in our lives, many of them are not voluntary.”

— Toby Ziegler, ‘Election Night’, season four, episode seven.

18. “I am tired of working for candidates who make me think I should be embarrassed to believe what I believe”

— Bruno Gianelli, ‘Gone Quite’, season three, episode six.

19. “I drink from the keg of glory, Donna. Bring me the finest muffins and bagels in all the land.”

— Josh Lyman, ‘Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc’, season one, episode two.

20.“We have the ability to affect more change in a day in the White House than we will have in a lifetime once we walk out of these doors.”

— Leo McGarry, ‘365 Days’, season six, episode 12.

21. “When you try to hurl that label at my feet, ‘Liberal,’ as if it were something to be ashamed of, something dirty, something to run away from, it won’t work, Senator, because I will pick up that label and I will wear it as a badge of honor.”

— Matt Santos, ‘The Debate’, season seven, episode seven.

22.“Presidents don't make new friends, that's why they gotta hang onto their old ones.”

— Percy Fitzwallace, ‘A Proportional Response’, season one, episode three.

23. “I'm not going anywhere, I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world.”

— Ainsley Hayes, ‘In This White House’, season two, episode four.

24. “Lord John Marbury: What is your take on the situation?

Bartlet: The world is coming apart at the seams.

Lord John Marbury: Well, then, thank god you sent for me.”

— ‘Pilot’, season one, episode one.

25. “A peaceful settlement is 'put your guns down, you’re under arrest.'”

— Josh Lyman, ‘The State Dinner’, season one, episode seven.

26. “I have wit, I have charm, I have brains, I have legs that go all the way down to the floor, my friend.”

— Amy Gardner, ‘100,000 Airplanes’, season three, episode 11.

27. “A truly self-sacrificing act usually involves some sacrifice.”

— Steve Atwood, ‘The Dogs Of War’, season five, episode two.

‘The West Wing’ Bartlet Quotes

Jed Bartlet (President Bartlet) is one of the main characters of the show. Let's explore more of him with these great 'The West Wing' quotes coming from him.

28. “Catholics don’t believe man is saved through faith alone. Catholics believe faith has to be joined with good works.”

— President Bartlet, ‘Two Cathedrals’, season two, episode 22.

29. “Joy cometh in the morning, scripture tells us. I hope so. I don’t know if life would be worth living if it didn’t…”

— President Bartlet, ‘College Kids’, season four, episode three.

30. “Every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless.”

— President Bartlet, ‘20 Hours In America’, season four, episode two.

31. “I find these Cabinet meetings to be a fairly mind-numbing experience, but Leo assures me they are Constitutionally required.”

— President Bartlet, ‘Enemies’, season one, episode eight.

32. “The streets of heavens are too crowded with angels. But every time we think we've measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. This is a time for American heroes.”

— President Bartlet, ‘20 Hours In America’, season four, episode two.

33. “I’m the President of the United States, not the president of the people who agree with me. And by the way, if the left has a problem with that, they should vote for somebody else.”

— President Bartlet, ‘Game On’, season four, episode six.

34. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world.”

— President Bartlet, ‘Inauguration: Over There’, season four, episode 15.

35. “Before I go, please let me just say this: I’m seriously thinking about getting a dog.”

— President Bartlet, season one, episode four.

C J Cregg Quotes From 'The West Wing'

Claudian Jean Gregg or more commonly known as CJ Cregg from 'West Wing' is the White House Press Secretary under Bartlet. Here are some of the best quotes from CJ who by the end of the series ends up marrying Danny Concannon.

36. “Some of them will laugh and most of them won't care but for some, they might honestly see that it's about going to the blackboard and raising your hand.”

— C J Cregg, ‘Galileo’, season two, episode nine.

37. “There is no group of people this large in the world that can keep a secret. I find it comforting. It’s how I know for sure that the government isn’t covering up aliens in New Mexico.”

— C J Cregg, ‘Bad Moon Rising’, season two, episode 19.

38. “I'm the press secretary, boo-boo. I don't have that kind of time.”

— C J Cregg, ‘Life On Mars’, season four, episode 21.

39. “Some [schoolchildren] don't... raise their hand 'cause they think they're going to be wrong. I think you should say to these kids, ‘you think you get it wrong sometimes, you should come... See how the big boys do it.’”

— C J Cregg, ‘Galileo’, season two, episode nine.

40. “I'm going to crush him. I'm going to make him cry and then I'm going to tell his momma about it.”

— C J Cregg, ‘The Long Goodbye’, season four, episode 13.

41. “Being considered an 'average American' is something Americans find to be positive and comforting.”

— C J Cregg, ‘Lies, Damn Lies And Statistics’, season one, episode 21.

Funny 'West Wing' Quotes

These funny quotes from 'The West Wing' will have you chuckling!

42. “Toby Ziegler: I'm a responsible adult.

Andrea Wyatt: I'm a member of the United States Congress.

Toby Ziegler: I rest my case.”

— ‘Mandatory Minimums’, season one, episode 20.

43. “C J Cregg: We contacted the French...

Bernard Thatch: ... who promptly surrendered.”

— ‘Noel’, season one, episode 10.

44. “We can all get together on the grenade launcher, right?”

— Josh Lyman, ‘Five Votes Down’, season one, episode four.

45. “President Bartlet: You know, we're coming up to the good part.

Ellie Bartlet: Dad, people are trying to watch the movie.

President Bartlet: You want to bet me your tuition no one in this room is gonna shush me?”

— ‘Ellie’, season two, episode 15.

46. “C. J. Cregg: Is the reason you guys didn't get married because her name would have been Lisa Sherborne Seaborn?

Sam Seaborn: Yeah. That's the reason.”

— ‘100,000 Airplanes’, season three, episode 11.

47. “Josh Lyman: I’m just saying, if you were in an accident, I wouldn’t stop for a beer.

Donna Moss: If you were in an accident, I wouldn’t stop for red lights.”

— ‘17 People’, season two, episode 18.

48. “Eighty-three degrees in Bermuda. Just me, some suntan oil, and six-hundred and fifty-five pages of briefing memos.”

— Sam Seaborn, ‘In Excelsis Deo’, season one, episode 10.

49. “Will Bailey: When did you ask me to postpone my vacation?

Sam Seaborn: Well, I'm obviously about to right now.”

— ‘Arctic Radar’, season four, episode nine.

50. “Oliver Babish: Have you ever lied about the president's health? What is your answer?

C. J. Cregg: Many many times.”

— ‘The Fall's Gonna Kill You’, season two, episode 20.

51. "... in the future, if you're wondering, 'Crime. Boy, I don't know' is when I decided... [to beat Ritchie]"

- President Bartlet, 'Posse Comitatus', season three, episode 21.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'The West Wing' quotes, then why not take a look at these April Ludgate quotes or [Dwight Schrute quotes] too?

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