(n): a relation between living organisms (especially between people)
(n): the study of government of states and other political units
(n): the branch of science that studies society and the relationships of individual within a society
(n): the profession devoted to governing and to political affairs
(n): an occupation requiring special education (especially in the liberal arts or sciences)
(n): the opinion you hold with respect to political questions
(n): a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
(n): the activities and affairs involved in managing a state or a government
(n): any specific behavior
(n): transactions of professional or public interest
"The art of governing mankind by deceiving them"
Curiosities of Literature, by Isaac Disraeli
I like this spoof etymology (for which I don't know the attribution): poly, meaning many, and ticks, meaning small blood-sucking parasites.
SoG, you beat me to it. Just saw that quote for the first time yesterday. How timely. :-)
Here's another good one:
"There is a tragic flaw in our precious Constitution, and I don't know what can be done to fix it. This is it: Only nut cases want to be president." Kurt Vonnegut, "Cold Turkey", In These Times, May 10, 2004, US novelist (1922 - 2007).
"Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it's important." Eugene McCarthy, US politician (1916 - 2005).
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies."
- Groucho Marx.
Politics: "A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles"