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

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

In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly.

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

I am no courtesan, nor moderator, nor tribune, nor defender of the people: I am myself the people.

The more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.

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

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.

A riot is at bottom the language of the unheard.

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

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

All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.