I am no courtesan, nor moderator, nor tribune, nor defender of the people: I am myself the people.
—Maximilien Robespierre, 1792Quotes
I say violence is necessary. It is as American as cherry pie.
—H. Rap Brown, 1967Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense—nonsense upon stilts.
—Jeremy Bentham, c. 1832Whether for good or evil, it is sadly inevitable that all political leadership requires the artifices of theatrical illusion. In the politics of a democracy, the shortest distance between two points is often a crooked line.
—Arthur Miller, 2001A 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.
—David Foster Wallace, 2000A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.
—George Bernard Shaw, 1944The 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. 1770I work for a government I despise for ends I think criminal.
—John Maynard Keynes, 1917It 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, 1625Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.
—Laozi, c. 500 BCEvery country has the government it deserves.
—Joseph de Maistre, 1811In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1830