He who is not for me is against me.

obstinate and perseverence are not the same at all.
Obstinate involves someone trying to stop you, perserverance doesnt.

Laurence Stern - I once read Tistram Shandy, a very strange book, but liked the one he wrote about his travels in France etc. An original thinker.

"...Generally ..... we can all agree with what politicians say in their public statements" .....
My husband would not agree with that Granny23. You should hear him shouting at the radio - "Load of lies" etc.
Perhaps better not.
But you're right that their actions betray their real motives.

It's not what they SAY but rather what they actually DO that matters. Generally, apart from the odd slip of the tongue, we can all agree with what Politicians say in their public statements, or perhaps, we hear what we want to hear (as in the first quote). What they actually DO or have done is often diametrically opposed to what the say or have said.

He's spot on.

I think the modern tendency to go in for "identity politics" is something he would have warned against too. And judging people (I'm thinking of politicians mainly, but not only) by who they are rather than what they say.

sorry about the rogue exclamation mark

Isn't it called "having the strength of your convictions"? Where we would we be if politicians and other public 'advisors' couldn't!' make their minds up?

Oh yes. Exactly where we are now.