What experience and history teach is this—that nations and governments have never learned anything from history or acted upon any lessons they might have drawn from it.
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, 1830Quotes
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 BCOut of the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing was ever made.
—Immanuel Kant, 1784The more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.
—Tacitus, c. 117I say violence is necessary. It is as American as cherry pie.
—H. Rap Brown, 1967The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is right.
—Judge Learned Hand, 1944Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.
—Paul Valéry, 1943Politics, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.
—Ambrose Bierce, 1906The U.S. presidency is a Tudor monarchy plus telephones.
—Anthony Burgess, 1972Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.
—Laozi, c. 500 BCYou campaign in poetry. You govern in prose.
—Mario Cuomo, 1985An appeal to the reason of the people has never been known to fail in the long run.
—James Russell Lowell, c. 1865You should never have your best trousers on when you go out to fight for freedom and truth.
—Henrik Ibsen, 1882