I say violence is necessary. It is as American as cherry pie.

You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose.

Politics, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.

To be turned from one’s course by men’s opinions, by blame, and by misrepresentation shows a man unfit to hold office.

I work for a government I despise for ends I think criminal.

Treaties, you see, are like girls and roses: they last while they last.

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.

A real leader is somebody who can help us overcome the limitations of our own individual laziness and selfishness and weakness and fear and get us to do better, harder things than we can get ourselves to do on our own.

Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense—nonsense upon stilts.

If you must take care that your opinions do not differ in the least from those of the person with whom you are talking, you might just as well be alone.

The Revolution is made by man, but man must forge his revolutionary spirit from day to day.

You should never have your best trousers on when you go out to fight for freedom and truth.

Out of the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing was ever made.