Politics, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.
—Ambrose Bierce, 1906Quotes
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.
—George Bernard Shaw, 1944The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power over nothing.
—Herodotus, c. 425 BCNo 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.
—Hannah Arendt, 1958The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all.
—G.K. Chesterton, 1908The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is right.
—Judge Learned Hand, 1944A 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.
—David Foster Wallace, 2000There is no method by which men can be both free and equal.
—Walter Bagehot, 1863Sic semper tyrannis! The South is avenged.
—John Wilkes Booth, 1865Politics is the art of the possible.
—Otto von Bismarck, 1867I say violence is necessary. It is as American as cherry pie.
—H. Rap Brown, 1967Treaties, you see, are like girls and roses: they last while they last.
—Charles de Gaulle, 1963I am no courtesan, nor moderator, nor tribune, nor defender of the people: I am myself the people.
—Maximilien Robespierre, 1792