Politics is the art of the possible.

There is no method by which men can be both free and equal.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

On the loftiest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own rump.

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

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.

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

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