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

Every communist must grasp the truth: “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.”

The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all.

Politics is the art of the possible.

The more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.

You should never have your best trousers on when you go out to fight for freedom and truth.

O citizens, first acquire wealth; you can practice virtue afterward.

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

Envy is the basis of democracy.

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

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

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