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

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.

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

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

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

Sic semper tyrannis! The South is avenged.

An appeal to the reason of the people has never been known to fail in the long run.

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

Written laws are like spiderwebs: they will catch, it is true, the weak and poor but would be torn in pieces by the rich and powerful.

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

Television has made dictatorship impossible, but democracy unbearable.

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

The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is right.