Let him who desires peace prepare for war.

Television has made dictatorship impossible, but democracy unbearable.

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

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

Politics is the art of the possible.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.