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 affairs of the world are no more than so much trickery, and a man who toils for money or honor or whatever else in deference to the wishes of others, rather than because his own desire or needs lead him to do so, will always be a fool.

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

Out of the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing was ever made.

You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose.

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

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

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

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

Treaties, you see, are like girls and roses: they last while they last.

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

The best of all rulers is but a shadowy presence to his subjects.

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