Archive

Quotes

The U.S. presidency is a Tudor monarchy plus telephones.

—Anthony Burgess, 1972

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

—Immanuel Kant, 1784

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

—Quintus Fabius Maximus, c. 203 BC

Every country has the government it deserves.

—Joseph de Maistre, 1811

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

—John Maynard Keynes, 1917

Let him who desires peace prepare for war.

—Vegetius, c. 385

Envy is the basis of democracy.

—Bertrand Russell, 1930

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

—Dean Acheson, 1970

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

—Charles de Gaulle, 1963

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

—Lord Acton, 1887

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

—Che Guevara, 1968

The best of all rulers is but a shadowy presence to his subjects.

—Laozi

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

—Henrik Ibsen, 1882