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.

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

Every country has the government it deserves.

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

Television has made dictatorship impossible, but democracy unbearable.

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

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.

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

People revere the Constitution yet know so little about it—and that goes for some of my fellow senators.

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

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

To be turned from one’s course by men’s opinions, by blame, and by misrepresentation shows a man unfit to hold office.

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.