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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

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

I’m president of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli!

I work for a government I despise for ends I think criminal.

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

There is nothing more tyrannical than a strong popular feeling among a democratic people.

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