Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

He may be a patriot for Austria, but the question is whether he is a patriot for me.

Let him who desires peace prepare for war.

There is nothing more tyrannical than a strong popular feeling among a democratic people.

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

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

There is no method by which men can be both free and equal.

Every communist must grasp the truth: “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.”

The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all.

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

Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time.

I shall be an autocrat: that’s my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that’s his.

The vice presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm piss.