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

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

The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power over nothing.

I shall be an autocrat: that’s my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that’s his.

No human life, not even the life of a hermit, is possible without a world which directly or indirectly testifies to the presence of other human beings.

Sic semper tyrannis! The South is avenged.

Envy is the basis of democracy.

A riot is at bottom the language of the unheard.

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

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.

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

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.