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

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.

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

I shall be an autocrat: that’s my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that’s his.

Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.

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.

Every country has the government it deserves.

Whether for good or evil, it is sadly inevitable that all political leadership requires the artifices of theatrical illusion. In the politics of a democracy, the shortest distance between two points is often a crooked line.

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

The affairs of the world are no more than so much trickery, and a man who toils for money or honor or whatever else in deference to the wishes of others, rather than because his own desire or needs lead him to do so, will always be a fool.

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

The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power over nothing.

I’m president of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli!