It is impossible to tell which of the two dispositions we find in men is more harmful in a republic, that which seeks to maintain an established position or that which has none but seeks to acquire it.

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

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.

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

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.

Television has made dictatorship impossible, but democracy unbearable.

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

Let him who desires peace prepare for war.

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.

People revere the Constitution yet know so little about it—and that goes for some of my fellow senators.

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

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

On the loftiest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own rump.