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

Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.

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

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

My 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.

Television has made dictatorship impossible, but democracy unbearable.

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.

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

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

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

If you must take care that your opinions do not differ in the least from those of the person with whom you are talking, you might just as well be alone.

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

Envy is the basis of democracy.