Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time.

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

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

It is a certain sign of a wise government and proceeding, when it can hold men’s hearts by hopes, when it cannot by satisfaction.

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The best of all rulers is but a shadowy presence to his subjects.

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

Television has made dictatorship impossible, but democracy unbearable.

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.

An appeal to the reason of the people has never been known to fail in the long run.

The Revolution is made by man, but man must forge his revolutionary spirit from day to day.

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

All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.