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

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

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

It is a certain sign of a wise government and proceeding, when it can hold men’s hearts by hopes, when it cannot by satisfaction.

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.

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

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

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.

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

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

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

Every country has the government it deserves.

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