Whether 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is right.

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.

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

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

You have all the characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner.

A riot is at bottom the language of the unheard.