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

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.

O citizens, first acquire wealth; you can practice virtue afterward.

Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

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

The more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.

All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.

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

Why has the government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.

You have all the characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner.

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

The first requirement of a statesman is that he be dull.