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

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.

You should never have your best trousers on when you go out to fight for freedom and truth.

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

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

It is impossible to tell which of the two dispositions we find in men is more harmful in a republic, that which seeks to maintain an established position or that which has none but seeks to acquire it.

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

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

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.

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

Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.

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

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