Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time.

Let him who desires peace prepare for war.

Politics, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.

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

No human life, not even the life of a hermit, is possible without a world which directly or indirectly testifies to the presence of other human beings.

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

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

I work for a government I despise for ends I think criminal.

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

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

Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.

You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose.

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