Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense—nonsense upon stilts.
—Jeremy Bentham, c. 1832Quotes
The first requirement of a statesman is that he be dull.
—Dean Acheson, 1970Let him who desires peace prepare for war.
—Vegetius, c. 385It is a certain sign of a wise government and proceeding, when it can hold men’s hearts by hopes, when it cannot by satisfaction.
—Francis Bacon, 1625Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
—Lord Acton, 1887Television has made dictatorship impossible, but democracy unbearable.
—Shimon Peres, 1995The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power over nothing.
—Herodotus, c. 425 BCMy people and I have come to an agreement that satisfies us both. They are to say what they please, and I am to do what I please.
—Frederick the Great, c. 1770On the loftiest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own rump.
—Michel de Montaigne, 1580I shall be an autocrat: that’s my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that’s his.
—Catherine the Great, c. 1796The more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.
—Tacitus, c. 117The vice presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm piss.
—John Nance Garner, c. 1967I say violence is necessary. It is as American as cherry pie.
—H. Rap Brown, 1967