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

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.

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

The U.S. presidency is a Tudor monarchy plus telephones.

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

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

Written laws are like spiderwebs: they will catch, it is true, the weak and poor but would be torn in pieces by the rich and powerful.

If you must take care that your opinions do not differ in the least from those of the person with whom you are talking, you might just as well be alone.

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

Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense—nonsense upon stilts.

The Revolution is made by man, but man must forge his revolutionary spirit from day to day.

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.

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