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

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

An appeal to the reason of the people has never been known to fail in the long run.

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

I am invariably of the politics of the people at whose table I sit, or beneath whose roof I sleep.

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

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

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

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

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

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 more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.

What experience and history teach is this—that nations and governments have never learned anything from history or acted upon any lessons they might have drawn from it.